A homicide investigation is underway following the death of a man in Ponsonby on Sunday evening.Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton of Auckland City CIB revealed that emergency services responded to reports of a gunshot fired outside an address on Ponsonby Road at around 10.18pm."Upon arrival at the scene, a man was found deceased," Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton said. "Our investigation is in its early stages as we work to determine the exact circumstances surrounding this incident."The local community can expect to see a heightened police presence today, Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton advised."Road closures are currently in place on Ponsonby Road between Franklin and Richmond Roads," he explained. "Police are assisting with traffic management, and a scene guard has been established that will remain throughout the day as our inquiries progress."The search for the person responsible for the shooting continues. "Police have spoken to a number of witnesses who were in the vicinity at the time of the incident," Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton said. "While no arrests have been made at this stage, detectives are actively pursuing all leads."Information from the public is crucial to the investigation. A post-mortem examination and formal identification of the victim are expected to take place in the coming days."Police urge anyone who was in the area or has information that may be helpful to come forward, even if they haven't spoken to us yet," Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton concluded.Anyone with information can contact the police via the 105 phone service or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105, referencing file number 240506/9353. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Motorway Closures for Upgrades this WeekThe NZTA advises motorists of planned closures on the Northern Motorway (SH1) this week for ongoing improvement works.Night-time lane restrictions will be in place from Sunday, May 5th to Tuesday, May 7th, affecting both northbound and southbound lanes between Orewa and Silverdale.Detours will be clearly signposted to minimise disruption. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead for delays, particularly during peak travel times.Gun Call Turns Out to be False AlarmArmed police responded to a report of a firearm on Hobson Street on Saturday morning.The alert, which saw officers swarm the Goodview Apartment Hotel, was triggered by a long piece of photographic equipment mistaken for a gun.One person was arrested on an unrelated warrant, while two others were released. Police stressed there was no danger to the public.Harbour Bridge Walk and Cycle Events CancelledAucklanders hoping to walk or cycle the Harbour Bridge will be disappointed after NZTA cancelled the Walk It, Wheel It event series.Originally planned for March last year and postponed due to Cyclone Gabrielle, the programme has now been permanently scrapped.Bike Auckland says the cancellation removes even modest options for active transport across the bridge, urging authorities to reconsider.

Aucklanders can breathe a sigh of relief as the Government and Auckland Council have reached an agreement on water infrastructure funding.The new plan, dubbed "Local Water Done Well," delivers on the Government's election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland's water services.This agreement means Aucklanders will avoid the previously proposed water rate hike of a staggering 25.8%. Importantly, local control of water assets will also be retained.The announcement was made at a joint press conference held at Watercare's Central Interceptor construction site in Māngere.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown were all present."This Local Water Done Well solution ensures affordable water rates now and into the future for Aucklanders," stated Minister Brown. He emphasised the significant difference from the previous government's approach, which he described as "wasteful" and "divisive."The key difference lies in how Watercare will finance its infrastructure upgrades.The new model allows for increased borrowing spread over a longer period, rather than placing the immediate burden on current ratepayers.Mayor Brown expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, highlighting the collaborative effort between the Council and central government.He commended the Government for listening to the Council's preferred approach and praised their swift action in implementing it."This is exactly what Auckland needs," said Mayor Brown.He emphasised the importance of finding a better solution than the previously proposed drastic rate increase.The Mayor also reiterated his belief that water infrastructure management should involve greater local control.He commended the Government for acknowledging this perspective and working together to achieve a more sustainable funding model for Auckland's water needs.International credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings has confirmed that the new model separates Watercare's borrowing from Auckland Council's for credit rating purposes.This provides further assurance for the long-term financial health of the water infrastructure project.

Mayor Wayne Brown has told Auckland Transport to "shut up and listen" as he pushes ahead with his election promises.Brown wants Auckland Transport (AT) to install more dynamic lanes and transponders on buses to change traffic lights.He would also like Auckland Council to have more of a say on longer-term projects, something the Minister for Transport, Simeon Brown agrees with him about."I discovered that the only council in New Zealand that doesn't control its Land Transport Plan is this one, thanks to the way the council was set up, which was stupid," Brown said."It's been handed over to AT, who think they're independent, well they're not. We're funding you, shut up and listen."So the Minister for Transport in Auckland Simeon Brown, who I'm getting on quite well with, has agreed that we will be put back in charge of the Regional Land Transport Plan."I'm negotiating that with him and at his request, he said AT are going to have nothing to do with this negotiation."A Land Transport Plan sets out a region's transport objectives and policies and is prepared every six years. In almost all cases they're prepared by regional transport committees, but Auckland Transport takes care of it in the country's biggest city.Ahead of the 2022 mayoral election, Brown made it a priority to bring council-controlled organisations (CCOs) back under control.Brown has been vocal in his criticism of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Eke Panuku, the Port of Auckland and AT since taking office.Minister Simeon Brown. Photo: RNZ / Angus DreaverFor AT he is pushing for more dynamic lanes, which use overhead signals to change the direction of centre lanes at peak times."The transport system is dumb here, we didn't have things like dynamic lanes, we had one up in Whangaparāoa," Brown said."We're now moving to put them in place on a lot of feeding roads."AT say dynamic streets are being implemented by the Auckland Network Optimisation Programme where and when appropriate.Through this programme, the Whangaparāoa Road and Redoubt Road reversible dynamic lanes were introduced.Investigation is underway to progress additional dynamic lane installations across the network where appropriate and feasible.AT is also looking at opportunities to trial a new type of dynamic lane that allows existing bus lanes to be turned on and off based on real-time traffic congestion using digital signage.Brown also wants the transponders on buses used to allow traffic lights to change to green when approaching them."I said at the campaign that buses should have transponders on them and we should be connecting those to the lights," Brown said."I get in here and AT discover that they do have transponders on them and perhaps we will connect them to the lights and it does speed up the buses."These things are happening. We have these 20 councillors, why didn't one of them dream that up? They've all been there for years."So I arrive and things are changing, there's no two ways about that. So I'm proud of that."AT confirmed to Stuff that after successfully completing a trial two years ago, the Bus Booster, as it refers to the transponder system, is being rolled out to more locations.Wayne Brown in an electric bus. Photo: RNZ/Nick MonroThere are 50 intersections with Bus Booster technology and AT is implementing the next 25 intersections over the next 12 months.Since the Bus Boosters were installed, AT has noticed that buses are getting green lights more regularly and are being delayed less.Auckland councillors have spent the past couple of weeks going over the results from almost 28,000 submissions from individuals, organisations and iwi to the Long-term Plan.Brown believed there was enough support received for his big ideas, particularly leasing the operation of the port for 35 years and investing the proceeds, estimated at $2.1 billion, in the proposed Auckland Future Fund."Pretty much everything in there got public support, but the public are more active and future looking than the elected officials, so it makes it quite difficult," Brown said."In New Zealand, democracy underestimates the wisdom of the public. I've still got remnants of left/right, National/ Labour on the council, which is a bit awkward because I'm not in either of those camps. I'm just pragmatic and what's the best thing for Auckland."Meanwhile, AT is on track to complete its biggest road maintenance programme in seven years.The Summer Road Reno programme was launched to give the annual road maintenance campaign a boost for 2023/24 and let people know there will be road works and disruption.AT has completed 95 percent of the current annual programme and has resurfaced 378km of roads with a target of 400km by the end of June.- Stuff

Every successive poll on the public's attitude toward journalism is more alarming than the last. Two-thirds of New Zealanders do not trust the news, and three-quarters sometimes actively avoid it. The industry is fighting for its existence, under attack from commercial, technological, legal, cultural, political, and social elements.Dr. Gavin Ellis, a media analyst and former editor, suggests that journalists are undervalued and their industry is not deemed worthy of protection. He argues that if we do not have journalists, we have no acceptable means of holding to account the elements that collectively make up our democratic nation.The Koi Tū paper, which Ellis authored, recommends that media start persuading the public of their role in a democracy. It suggests converting the Broadcasting Commission into a multi-purpose commission to house autonomous regulatory bodies and coordinate the review of Acts of Parliament affecting media.The paper also criticises media for being overly negative and conflating reportage and commentary. It suggests that foreign digital platforms, which make no material contribution to news, are siphoning off the lifeblood of the industry. The paper recommends amending the Digital Services Tax Bill to levy these platforms and compensate news media for the use of their content.Without changes to the business model, journalism will fall below a credible minimum and lose its ability to give democracy meaning. The Koi Tū paper offers a range of changes, including charitable and low-profit models, to help fund journalism and save it from collapse.

Auckland Transport (AT) is expanding its Fareshare scheme, a programme designed to help businesses subsidise their employees' public transport costs. This development offers a win-win situation for businesses and Aucklanders alike.Previously trialled, Fareshare proved a resounding success with both employers and staff. Now, any Auckland business with at least five employees can join the scheme. This provides companies with a valuable perk to attract and retain talent, while also contributing to sustainability goals.Genesis Energy, an early adopter of Fareshare, highlights the challenge of transitioning to a new location with limited car parking. Fareshare, says George Higgins-Smith, Fleet, Transport and Travel Manager at Genesis Energy, "helped staff transition to the new...location without using their car."Moreover, using public transport has a significant environmental impact. Genesis Energy employees using Fareshare have already clocked up over a million kilometres on public transport, resulting in a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions."We have calculated this...to equate to a reduction of close to 127 tonnes of CO2 emission," says Cathy Bebelman, Chief Scientist at AT. This reduction is comparable to the carbon sequestered by nearly 27,000 Titoki trees in a year, or the emissions of 53 standard cars driven for a year in New Zealand.AT is committed to making public transport a more attractive option. They're investing in improvements to ensure it's a convenient, safe, and reliable way to get around Auckland. This, in turn, will benefit everyone by reducing road congestion and travel times, not just for public transport users, but for drivers as well."It's an attractive employee benefit scheme and affordable for any size business," says Richard Harrison, General Manager Growth and Optimisation at AT. Businesses only pay when their employees use the scheme, making it a cost-effective option. Additionally, subsidised public transport through Fareshare is exempt from fringe benefit tax, adding to its appeal.GoSee Travel is another company that participated in the Fareshare trial. Employees found the process straightforward, with an information session from AT's Travelwise advisors to explain the scheme and help them plan their commutes using public transport."Registering to Fareshare was simple," shared a GoSee Travel employee. "The discount is great; it makes getting to work much more affordable." They added that Fareshare has encouraged them to use public transport more often, saving money on car journeys.The Fareshare scheme offers businesses the flexibility to choose between five or seven-day travel passes at subsidised rates of 25%, 50%, or 75%. These passes are loaded onto AT HOP cards, allowing travel on Auckland's bus, train, and ferry services. Employees pay the discounted fare, while businesses are billed monthly for the additional amount they contribute."We would like to see more businesses offering Fareshare," concludes Richard Harrison. By encouraging more people to use public transport, the scheme has the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and create a more sustainable Auckland.For more information on Fareshare, visit the Auckland Transport website.

The clock is ticking on Fuller's monopoly of the Waiheke ferry service with the government set to enable newcomers Island Direct to become part of the SuperGold card scheme from the 1 July.For the last six months, the service has been unable to accept gold cards or AT HOP cards with those commuters forced to take a Fullers ferry.But there finally looks to be a sea change.An "exciting rollercoaster" is how Island Direct founder David Todd sums up the last six months of less than smooth sailing.Over the summer, most of its boats at the weekends have been full.Now it was hoping to reel in daily commuters.Launching multi passes a few months ago, and looking to increase its sailings, boats and staff in the future were all part of the plan.But what it really needed was the ability for passengers to tag on and off and use their gold cards.Waiheke residents Checkpoint spoke to were in support of the idea."I have to opt for Fullers, they're the only one that takes the gold card and I think Fullers is a monopoly and it abuses it," said one pensioner.Another passenger agreed it would be far easier to be able to tap on with a HOP card."You can't tap multiple people on using the one card and the HOP card is a big one and it's kind of the main thing that we use here on the island."David Todd said Island Direct has been trying to negotiate with Auckland Transport, NZ Transport Agency and the Ministry of Transport since the end of last year to become part of the SuperGold card scheme and allow HOP cards on board."We've pretty much pulled out all stops, it's been challenging I would say."When asked by Checkpoint what had been the hold up Todd replied, "bureaucracy, it's as simple as that".Minister of Transport Simeon Brown has confirmed to Checkpoint the ministry and NZTA were working with Auckland Transport (AT) to enable Island Direct to become part of the SuperGold card scheme from 1 July.A key part of this work will be negotiating a contract with Island Direct to include it in the scheme.In the meantime, Todd said there was no way it could compete despite being $5 cheaper than Fullers at $50 for a return trip."At the moment I think we're operating at about 60 percent of market capacity without super gold and without the HOP card, if we get those, we've got a level playing field."Waiheke Local Board chairperson Cath Handley said it was time for change."The existing service, which is the monopoly service, have been subsidised to the tune of millions of dollars a year from the public purse in the six months of operating this new ferry hasn't had one cent."Waiheke locals RNZ spoke to wanted to see some real competition."I know Auckland Transport buggered up the last operators Explorer I think they were called, I don't know if they're in bed with Fullers, but it certainly looks that way," one person said."Fullers just need somebody to compete with," another local agreed.Cath Handley said she had been given different excuses for the hold up, which she said did not add up."You're not gonna get more commuters just because you've got two operators, same with the gold card you don't suddenly have more gold card people with gold cards going."It's just that there are two services who have got an opportunity commercially to have a slice of the action, I would have thought that was what, government and democracy was about."Another issue was limited advertising of the Island Direct service at the Matiatia and downtown ferry terminal."If a ferry isn't arriving on time, it has been cancelled by, let's say Fullers, there is no announcement to the huge queue of people that there is another ferry leaving in 10 minutes and it's only a few steps away."Island Direct and Fullers both charge $27.50 one way to Waiheke but Fullers is $55 return compared to Island Direct's flat rate of $50.Unlike Fullers, Island Direct does not charge commuters any extra to pre-book, something some travellers enjoyed."Ohh it's a different class it's a bit like turning left when you get on an airplane that's the difference."It's basically less of a bum fight, so you know you turn up, you get on the boat. It's all very chill, " said one local."It's been completely reliable in my experience, and you can book a seat for the same price as queuing up for with Fullers," said another passenger.In a statement supplied to RNZ Auckland Transport contract manager Gareth Willis said, "We're in regular contact with Island Direct about the possible introduction of AT HOP onto their ferry service."For AT HOP to be introduced onto the service, there are system reconfiguration requirements that need to be delivered, and AT is assessing how these requirements can be mitigated to enable an accelerated introduction of AT HOP onto the service, we expect to know more in the coming weeks."Willis said AT has been supportive of Island Direct's request to join the SuperGold Card scheme and was reviewing funding availability with NZTA for SuperGold to be added to the service."As a result of this review, funding will be sought by NZTA for the service to become part of the scheme from 1 July."Subject to Ministerial agreement, if confirmed the SuperGold card would likely be introduced prior to any introduction of AT HOP.AT group manager of public transport and operations Rachel Cara said AT was very supportive of a fair environment for ferry operators."Fullers360 pays to lease multiple premises across the network and this has given them the opportunity to establish a strong brand presence at the Downtown Ferry Terminal and Matiatia."We are continuing to work with Island Direct to provide them storage facilities and signage and have been very supportive of them placing marketing and wayfinding signage where possible."Island Direct expressed interest in placing a manned ticket kiosk at Matiatia and this is something we are also very supportive of."One person said that being able to use a HOP card did not make a difference for them, they thought it was a promising idea."I would like to see it because I think it levels the playing field between the competitors."

Businesses have become far less negative about the economic outlook, though weakening demand for goods and services has emerged as a top concern.Forsyth Barr's third Pulse of NZ business survey conducted mid-April received feedback from about 550 business owners, directors, managers, employees and contractors from businesses of all sizes, representing a wide range of industry sectors.The report said the economic outlook had moved "from an extremely negative position to a largely neutral one".Forsyth Barr director Aaron Ibbotson said the change of government had made the difference."There has been an enormous shift from our prior survey ... and something that is not picked up in some of the commercial banks' surveys."However, he said weak demand was a concern, with one in four respondents citing it as their biggest challenge."Weak current demand is the number one issue facing businesses today, which it was not when we did the survey, you know, seven, eight months ago and certainly not 18 months ago."But I would argue that businesses are still relatively optimistic and surprisingly so versus my expectations or our expectations for their businesses over the next 12 months or so."And it's particularly so within the sectors that are less exposed to the cyclicality of the economy. So if you look at aged care and utilities and areas like that."The report indicated the biggest improvement in forward expectations, by some margin, was in aged care, with a net 50 percent of sector-related respondents expecting an improvement in profitability over the next 12 months, which was the highest of any sector.The report also noted a widening spread between more cyclical business such as freight, construction and manufacturing, all of which were experiencing weak and weakening demand versus.Labour availability, which was the biggest challenge 18 months ago, had dropped down the list of challenges, along with cost inflation, though inflation concerns were declining at a slower pace.Retail also saw a substantial improvement in the forward outlook, which had turned neutral from negative.

Structured literacy is set to revolutionise the way children in New Zealand learn to read, with Education Minister Erica Stanford heralding it as a game-changer for improving academic performance and fostering future success.“Reading and writing are essential life skills, yet many of our young people are falling behind. Recent data paints a concerning picture, with only 56% of Year 8 students meeting the expected reading level, and a mere 35% for writing,” Ms Stanford emphasises.Drawing from both domestic and international evidence, the Minister asserts that structured literacy is the most effective method for equipping children with robust reading skills vital for their educational journey and beyond.Ms Stanford highlights the success stories from several schools in New Zealand already implementing structured literacy, noting significant enhancements in student achievement. Her ambition is to extend this opportunity to all children across the country.Beginning in Term 1 of 2025, all state schools will adopt the proven structured literacy approach to teaching reading, signalling a pivotal shift in educational strategy.“Structured literacy emphasises foundational skills, teaching children to read by decoding sounds and phonics,” Ms Stanford explains, outlining the fundamental principles of the approach.In alignment with the government's ambitious target of achieving an 80% proficiency rate among Year 8 students by 2030, structured literacy emerges as a cornerstone of their strategy.The rollout is backed by a substantial $67 million commitment under Budget 2024, aimed at providing comprehensive support:Professional development opportunities for teachers to familiarise themselves with structured literacy.Provision of books and resources essential for implementing the approach in schools.Introduction of phonics checks to monitor student progress.Additional support for students requiring extra assistance.Ms Stanford underscores the symbiotic relationship between structured literacy and the government's mandate for schools to dedicate an hour daily to reading, writing, and mathematics. She stresses the importance of a curriculum that offers a robust framework for student learning progression.The funding announcement ensures that teachers receive the requisite training, support, and resources to effectively deliver structured literacy programmes.“Our teachers play a crucial role, and it's imperative that we equip them adequately to drive improvements in reading and writing outcomes,” Ms Stanford affirms, expressing confidence in the transformative impact of structured literacy on the educational landscape.

The Blues scored a bonus point 38-11 win over the Rebels in Melbourne.The result kept the Blues just a point behind the Super Rugby Pacific leaders the Hurricanes who beat the Waratahs 41-12 earlier on Friday.It was a torrid first half with the Blues leading 12-11 at the break.However the visitors raced away with the game in the last quarter to secure maximum points.Lock Sam Darry came on and scored a double to blow out the scoreline, with the Blues surviving a yellow card to Harry Plummer.The class difference proved far greater than the standings might suggest, with the Blues running in five tries to one, with All Black winger Mark Tele'a also finishing with a double.For the most part the Rebels matched the Blues and judging by statistics midway through the second half, should have been on top.But the visitors' ability to take advantage of their opportunities and some rock-solid defence proved the difference, delivering an emphatic win in the end, helped by two late tries.The Blues lost Test back Rieko Ioane to a head clash just before the break.Melbourne lost both centres David Feliuai (head) and Matt Proctor (head) at the same time, both leaving after 30 minutes.While the Rebels repeatedly hammered the Blues' try line and came up empty-handed, the Aucklanders ran in four tries, with Darry's double coming in the 74th and 77th minutes.The Blues and Hurricanes clash at Eden Park next weekend.

Addressing housing affordability concerns, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced initiatives to streamline the building consent process, making home construction more accessible and cost-effective.Mr Penk underscored the Government's commitment to facilitating affordable housing solutions, stating, "Our priority is to expedite home construction, bolstering economic recovery and facilitating faster homeownership for New Zealanders."Recent construction data from Stats NZ, released in April, reveals an average construction duration of approximately 569 days from building consent issuance to project completion."This extended timeline, nearing 600 days, poses a significant challenge amidst the ongoing housing and cost of living crisis," Mr Penk remarked.He attributed prolonged construction periods to ambiguous regulations and rigid procedures, particularly regarding minor alterations or substitutions of building materials."Current regulations necessitate the submission of a new building consent or waiting for specific products, resulting in unnecessary delays and increased costs," Mr Penk explained.To address these issues, the Government aims to redefine 'minor variation' and introduce 'minor customisations' within the Building Act."These amendments will inject flexibility into the process, mitigating delays and cost escalations associated with minor changes," Mr Penk elaborated.Under the proposed changes, Building Consent Authorities will continue to ensure compliance with the Building Code. However, homeowners will no longer be required to obtain new consents for minor product or design adjustments.Furthermore, these reforms align with the Commerce Commission's recommendation to facilitate product substitution and variation in the residential building supplies market.Mr Penk outlined several recent measures aimed at reducing construction costs and bureaucratic hurdles, including:Easing restrictions on overseas building products, mandating acceptance of products meeting international standards.Accelerating the review of earthquake-prone building legislation and extending remediation deadlines.Waiving building levy fees for small projects under £65,000.Mandating councils to provide clear timeframes for building consent applications.Simplifying dam safety regulations for farmers by raising height thresholds."These initiatives form part of our broader strategy to revitalise the economy and enhance affordability, empowering New Zealanders to thrive," Mr Penk concluded.

TVNZ's midday news bulletin has aired its last show today, amid cuts to local programming.The broadcaster announced in March 68 jobs and several programmes could be axed, including the midday bulletin, Fair Go and Sunday, and the late night news bulletins.It was being taken to the Employment Relations Authority by the E tū union on Monday over what they call a failure to follow the consultation requirements guaranteed for workers in its collective agreement.On Friday, presenter Indira Stewart thanked audiences on behalf of the entire crew behind 1News at Midday, as she signed off for the final time to the Simple Minds' song 'Don't You (Forget About Me)'.She said it had been a privilege to present the midday bulletin, before walking off set with a suitcase.As she did, the set lights turned off, ending the show.

Calling all podcast enthusiasts! If you rely on Google Podcasts to get your daily dose of true crime, comedy, or insightful interviews, you'll need to find a new app soon. Google has announced that Google Podcasts will be shutting down internationally on 23rd June 2024.Don't worry, you won't lose your carefully curated list of shows just yet. To help with the transition, Google has introduced a new tool. This tool allows you to either:Migrate your subscriptions to YouTube Music: This option lets you seamlessly transfer your podcast subscriptions to YouTube Music, another Google platform.Download your subscriptions as a file: You can choose to download your subscriptions as an OPML file. This file can then be imported into a different podcast app that supports it.Plenty of Time to Transfer Your ShowsThe migration and download tool will be available until 29th July 2024. This gives you ample time to decide which option works best for you and to make the switch.What Happens After July?Once July 29th arrives, you'll no longer be able to migrate or export your subscriptions. However, your Google Podcasts data, including your subscriptions, will be accessible through Google Takeout for one year after the app shuts down. This gives you time to download your data if you choose not to migrate to YouTube Music.Looking for a New Podcast App?With a variety of podcast apps available, there's sure to be one that suits your needs. Popular options include Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Pocket Casts. Each app offers different features, so take some time to explore your options before making a decision.The Future of PodcastsWhile the demise of Google Podcasts may be inconvenient, it's a sign of the ever-evolving podcast landscape. With so many apps vying for your attention, the focus remains on delivering the best possible listening experience for podcast fans everywhere.

A man wanted over a "violent" kidnapping in Auckland's Beach Haven has been arrested on Waiheke Island.In a statement, police said officers took an early morning trip to the island on Friday which ended in four people connected to the Mongols gang arrested and ferried back to the mainland.Detective Sergeant Ray Fa'aofo said the Oneroa address was housing people connected to the gang that had warrants for arrest and were breaching bail."Police quickly took four people into custody without incident at the address."Amongst those we located was the 25-year-old, who was wanted to arrest over the earlier kidnapping."Fa'aofo said this man would appear in court, facing charges of kidnapping, commission of a crime with a firearm, committing burglary with a firearm and wounds with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.He was also facing a charge of possession of a firearm and ammunition after allegedly being found with a loaded shotgun on Friday morning.He was expected to appear in the North Shore District Court later today by audio visual link.With regard to the other arrested, two men aged 30 would appear at North Shore and Auckland district courts for bail breaches.A 46-year-old woman has been charged as being an accessory after the fact over the kidnapping - as well as breach of bail.She would also face ammunition charges in the North Shore District Court."This group may have had weekend plans, but this morning's warrant has changed that and instead their trip is to face their matters in court," Fa'aofo said."Our team has been working for countless hours in recent weeks to locate the man sought over the kidnapping incident."It is pleasing we have now located all of those that we allege were involved in that violent incident."

Maritime operators have been discussing ways for Auckland's ferry network to reach zero emissions at a conference in the city.The New Zealand Maritime Transport Association conference brought together maritime industry representatives - from public transport operators to boat buildersHigh on the agenda was discussions about how Auckland's ferries would deal with the challenges of new technology to become more environmentally friendly.The world's first fully electric ferry, Ika Rere, has been operating in Wellington for two years but further north, Auckland's ferry fleet was old and still used diesel.Next year, that will change, with Auckland Transport building four electric boats to service inner and mid-harbour routes.Project manager for the low emission fleet, Nathan Cammock, said it will take around a decade to replace the current fleet."For Auckland if we want to move away from diesel ferries, we've got to put charging infrastructure in around our city."Auckland's ferries make up 6 percent of the cities public transport passengers, but 20 percent of public transport greenhouse gas emissions.Cammock said fast chargers will be the key to improving ferry services."One of the things we're trying do is fast charging for the ferries, and that will allow us to keep the frequency that passengers enjoy at the moment, and on some of the routes where we have reduced frequency, having more boats will help us bring that back to where they were."But Cammock said installing charging stations was a challenge and was costing more than expected."The charging infrastructure is a big up front investment, with one charger then supporting one, two, three, four more ferries with a single charger, the challenge is we need to get the chargers in first so the ferries can operate."They were also investing in refitted diesel ferries to help aid the reliability issues that have plagued ferry commuters."We've got an immediate need now for more passenger capacity and more reliability on some of our routes, so diesel refits will help that."Auckland's ferry operator Fullers 360 said electric alone would not be enough to lower emissions across the network.Chief Executive Mike Horne said electric was great for inner-harbour routes, such as the city to Devonport, but for longer travel - to Gulf Harbour for instance, hydrogen-powered boats were better."The reality is electric vehicles are terrific for short trips. We have the grid electricity in place, which is what Auckland Transport is putting in place, and you can recharge it each end and you can run all day on electric, happily," he said."Hydrogen is really stored energy, so you can go further, without having to refuel, so it opens up a whole range of other uses, which you can't do with electric."But he said there were many hurdles to hydrogen technology - one of them was refuelling speed."The one in San Francisco two years was literally taking twelve hours to refuel. You can't do that in a network of commuters going backwards and forwards. You need it in twenty minutes."Regulations posed another problem - currently, the industry has none for hydrogen powered vessels."The regulation for these things don't really exist anywhere in the world. So one of the challenges working with maritime new zealand to get the rules right to allow these things to happen."Horne said hydrogen was also not yet commercially viable."Electric boats are highly highly commercial now. They don't require a government grant to get things up and underway, because they make money in their own right. Hydrogen isn't at that stage."Horne said Fullers was also renting a hydrofoiling vessel to trial."The electric foiling boats a little one, to prove out the foiling, and then scale those up to a foiling hydrogen boat for Waiheke, Gulf Harbour, and all those other things."Cammock said the focus for decarbonisation was ferries with shorter runs - it was a wait and see for how technology caught up for longer-running ferries."'At the moment we're very much focused on the inner and mid harbour. Hydrogen has some way to go until it's viable and cost effective, very must a wait and see."Maritime New Zealand chief executive Kirsty Hewlett said her organisation was making efforts to keep up with new technology."We work really closely alongside some of the operators who are building these vessels, just to understand what they are trying to do, what other regulators are doing."The conference winds up Friday, with delegates hoping they will come away with a better understanding of how new technology can drive the maritime industry into a low-emissions future.

Developers in Milldale celebrate as the last of the precast slabs is placed, marking a significant advancement in the construction of the Milldale State Highway 1 Crossing. This bridge will link Milldale with Millwater and Silverdale, enhancing connectivity in the area.With the steel framework now complete, the crossing officially transitions into a bridge, stretching over State Highway 1. The upcoming phase focuses on completing the bridge deck, expected to finish by July.The new bridge, spanning almost 100 meters in length and 19 meters in width, will be a crucial connection from John Fair Drive in Milldale to the Highgate Business Park and Silverdale.Concrete pours for the bridge deck are scheduled for completion by July. Following this, attention will turn to installing bridge and highway barriers, slated for September through October. The final phase involves reconfiguring the Highgate Parkway intersection, targeted for completion in December.As the bridge nears completion, anticipation mounts for the positive impact it will have on the lives of those in the community.

The national house value dropped slightly in April, with an increase in listings favouring buyers, according to the latest CoreLogic figures.CoreLogic's House Price Index edged down 0.1 percent in April, but was still 11 percent down on peak values.The national average property value was $933,633 last month.CoreLogic NZ chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said the continuation of soft house price trends in April reaffirmed it was a buyer's market, leaving sellers with reduced bargaining power."It's no surprise price growth has flattened off," Davidson said, adding that it coincided with a rise in the total number of listings on the market."To be fair, buyers don't have it all their own way. For a start, they've got to have their finance in place first, and that's not easy with mortgage rates still hovering at around 7 percent."In addition, with new jobs still being filled and the unemployment rate relatively low for now, there aren't many 'forced sellers' out there at the moment either."He said the outlook for the market was for an "underwhelming" upturn."Our expectation is that sales volumes might rise by around 10 percent this year, which is decent growth in percentage terms, but it's coming off a low base."Indeed, it'd still leave activity about 15-20 percent below normal."Despite April's flat national result, the main centres continued to show some variability, which was expected to continue.Dunedin values rose 0.7 percent in April, with Wellington and Hamilton seeing 0.4 percent growth.But Christchurch and Tauranga each dropped 0.1 percent, while Auckland values dipped 0.6 percent."In this environment, I'd expect house price movements to remain a bit variable from month to month, and across regions too," Davidson said.He said debt to income caps would also feature in the outlook, but in the meantime, conditions continued to favour first home buyers (FHBs)."Of course, it's never easy to get that first property. But with other groups, such as mortgaged investors, still just watching and waiting to some degree, the recent strength for FHBs' market share in an environment where prices have flattened might remain a feature for much of the year."

Climate change isn't just an environmental threat, it's a financial one too. A new study by researchers at the University of Auckland Business School sheds light on how climate change can negatively impact a company's value.Professor Henk Berkman and his co-authors developed a unique method to assess a company's vulnerability to climate risks by analysing their annual reports. This analysis takes into account how a company reports on potential climate change impacts, such as disruptions to sales or physical damage from extreme weather events."Companies are increasingly disclosing their exposure to climate change," explains Professor Berkman. "Our research converts this information into a score that reflects a company's vulnerability."This score, according to Berkman, reveals a clear connection between climate risk and company value.Henk Berkman is Professor of Fnance at the University of Auckland Business School."Companies with high climate risk see their stock prices fluctuate more dramatically in response to climate-related news events," he says. "For instance, a negative report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or a major flooding event can significantly impact their value compared to companies less exposed to climate risks."The study suggests that the financial market views climate risk as a significant factor, penalising companies with higher vulnerability.Investor Tool UnveiledThis research offers valuable insights for investors navigating the financial landscape in a changing climate. The researchers' tool allows investors to rank companies based on their climate risk exposure."This information helps investors identify companies most sensitive to climate change," says Professor Berkman. "Investors can then assess those companies' risk management strategies, such as cash reserves or diversification efforts, to make informed decisions."By demonstrating the financial implications of climate risk, the study aims to encourage further development of measures and standards to help investors better understand climate risks and their impact on company value.Professor Berkman concludes, "Our findings highlight the connection between climate risk exposure and market value. Companies with greater vulnerability face financial penalties, demonstrating that the market recognises climate change as a serious financial threat."

The Qualifications Authority has told MPs it could use artificial intelligence to help write school exams.The authority appeared before the Education and Workforce Select Committee for its annual review on Wednesday.NZQA wants more students sitting online digital exams rather than paper-based exams.However, the authority's chief executive Grant Klinkum said some schools might struggle to provide enough computers to ensure all their students could sit an online exam at once.He said with that problem in mind, NZQA could develop a bank of variations of each exam which could be offered on different days, rather than having a single exam on a single day for each subject.Klinkum said writing exams took months, but artificial intelligence could help NZQA staff to develop variations of exams more quickly."We have about an 18-month process of developing very robust exam questions and you couldn't do that process five or 10 times, but you could do one set of original assessments and use AI to draft five or 10 variations which a human would then refine," he said.MPs asked questions about last year's failures when the online exam system failed to cope with the number of logins.Klinkum said NZQA had managed up to 13,000 logins to online exams for many years, but it had problems when logins exceeded 20,000 last year.The vendor of the online exam system, Oxford-based company RM, was testing it to ensure it could cope with more users, he said."At the moment we have a version of the platform which they are testing at 45,000 simultaneous users. We think in our current operating environment that's too optimistic which is why we said to schools we're being very cautious about the May round of literacy and numeracy [tests], why we'd like them to stagger log-ons. So it is still two or three years away that we'll have real confidence that an English 1 exam with up to 45,000 students can be done without any staggering of log-ons," he said.Klinkum said the authority was making sure exam centre managers knew what to do if there was a problem with online access."If tens of thousands of students are pushing the refresh button constantly it immediately overwhelms the system," he said.Students should instead sit back for a minute before trying to log in again, he said.Klinkum said 97 percent of students who sat digital exams said they were good or very good."Students expect to be able to have a spell check and be able to manipulate data as we all do as we do our work and really value the word-processing capability of digital assessment."But he said students might struggle if they were not accustomed to using computers in the classroom on a regular basis.Last year about 20 percent of total NCEA credits awarded to students were through external exams, with the remaining 80 percent attained through internal assessment, Klinkum said.That meant quality assurance of teachers' internal assessment judgements was critical.This year NZQA would moderate 57,000 examples of school-marked work to check that teacher judgements were accurate.