New Zealanders unite on the last Friday of August for Daffodil Day, a poignant fundraising event supporting cancer research and patient services.The Cancer Society of New Zealand organises the annual campaign, symbolised by the resilient daffodil flower, which has raised vital funds for over a decade.The charity has invested over $50 million in cancer research in the past ten years, improving outcomes for the 27,000 Kiwis diagnosed with cancer annually.Community support on Daffodil Day brings hope to those affected by cancer, with 1 in 3 New Zealanders facing a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.

Coasties can expect enhanced literacy and numeracy outcomes for young learners, thanks to new support for Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers.The Education Minister, Erica Stanford, announced that the online curriculum resource, Kōwhiti Whakapae, will now assist ECE teachers in strengthening planning, formative assessment, and teaching practices in oral language, literacy, and maths.New research from the Education Review Office (ERO) highlights concerns about the number of children starting school without the necessary spoken language skills.The report recommends establishing consistent expectations for students, tracking their progress, and increasing the use of effective teaching practices.Additionally, it suggests supporting parents and whānau in developing language skills at home."We want every child to have confidence when they start at school. Implementing the oral language, literacy, and maths content of Kōwhiti Whakapae will support children to grow as readers, writers, mathematicians, and life-long learners," Ms. Stanford stated.The new online tools will allow teachers to adjust their practices based on evidence-based judgments of a child's progress.Furthermore, these resources will provide parents with a clearer understanding of their child’s learning and development.Oral language is recognised as a crucial building block for all children, essential for their success at school and beyond.The introduction of these tools marks a significant step toward lifting achievement and closing the equity gap within the education system.

Nationwide food safety concerns are mounting as Magnolia Real Limited leads a series of recalls, urging consumers to take immediate action.The company has recalled specific batches of its Magnolia Dairy brand Fresh Whole Full Cream Certified Organic Raw Milk due to potential contamination with Campylobacter bacteria.The affected milk, sold in Silverdale, Auckland, carries use-by dates from 13 August 2024 to 25 August 2024."This raw milk should not be consumed unless it’s heated to kill any bacteria. Return it for a refund or dispose of it if returning isn’t possible," warned Vincent Arbuckle, New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general.In addition to the raw milk recall, New Zealand Food Safety is also supporting recalls of several other food products.Safari Meats and SA Shop Limited have recalled all batches of 13 dried and cured meat products, including Biltong, Droëwors, and Venison Biltong, due to a lack of essential food safety controls.These products were distributed through Christchurch and online platforms."These products should not be eaten. You can return them for a refund or throw them out," Mr Arbuckle advised.Delmaine Fine Foods has recalled a range of antipasto products, including those sold under the Delmaine and Woolworths brands, because of potential Listeria contamination.Affected products include Five Olive Mix, Mediterranean Antipasto Mix, and Marinated Feta.Listeria is particularly dangerous for pregnant individuals, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems."These products should be avoided. Return them for a refund or dispose of them safely," Mr Arbuckle added.All recalled products have been removed from store shelves and were not exported.Consumers who have purchased any of these items are advised to visit the New Zealand Food Safety website for detailed information.If you are concerned about your health after consuming these products, contact your healthcare provider or Healthline at 0800 61 11 16 for advice.

Locals on the Hibiscus Coast will soon see changes as the Government progresses with Phase Two of the Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms.RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop announced a new wave of amendments designed to drive economic growth and productivity across New Zealand.Minister Bishop highlighted the challenges of New Zealand's current planning system, stating, "It's too hard to get things done in New Zealand, and our planning system is a big part of what's holding us back."The Government's reform efforts are in response to a campaign promise to simplify the country's development processes.The first phase of reforms saw the repeal of the Natural and Built Environment Act and Spatial Planning Act, with the Fast-track Bill currently under review by the Environment Committee.This second phase includes four major reform packages: Infrastructure and Energy, Housing, Farming and the Primary Sector, and Emergencies and Natural Hazards.These packages are intended to cut through red tape and lay the groundwork for future legislation.The Infrastructure and Energy package aims to promote energy and infrastructure projects by updating national direction instruments, including the introduction of a new National Policy Statement (NPS) for Infrastructure.It also includes extending coastal permits for ports and simplifying consent processes for telecommunications facilities as part of the Electrify NZ reforms.The Housing package focuses on the Government’s "Going for Housing Growth" policies.This package requires councils to meet 30-year Housing Growth Targets and allows flexibility with Medium Density Residential Standards.Other reforms will simplify heritage management and enable the construction of granny flats and papakāinga housing.For the primary sector, the reforms are set to boost productivity by amending the National Policy Statement-Highly Productive Land.This will permit indoor farming and greenhouses on highly productive land, along with the construction of solar farms, in line with National Party manifesto promises.The final package addresses natural hazards, providing a nationally consistent framework for managing risks from climate change and other natural disasters.This includes a new national direction on natural hazards, which will guide councils on identifying and responding to these risks.The Government expects to introduce the second RMA Amendment Bill to Parliament by the end of the year, with the national direction package following the same timeline.The third and final phase of the reforms will involve a complete replacement of the RMA with new legislation focused on property rights, slated for introduction before the end of 2025.

Coasties can look forward to improved infrastructure and economic growth following the Government's announcement of a new framework for Regional Deals.Local Government Minister Simeon Brown revealed the initiative, aiming to strengthen collaboration between central and local governments to tackle New Zealand’s infrastructure challenges.According to Minister Brown, New Zealand is currently facing significant infrastructure deficits, with issues ranging from bursting water pipes to deteriorating roads and a lack of housing."With a growing population, it is critically important we are delivering the long-term infrastructure we need for growth in our cities and regions," he stated.The Regional Deals initiative is part of the National-ACT coalition agreement, which seeks to rebuild the economy and address these pressing infrastructure concerns.Drawing inspiration from successful models in the UK and Australia, these deals are expected to foster long-term collaboration and investment, focusing on economic growth and improving the supply of affordable, quality housing.Minister Brown emphasised that the deals would not only coordinate capital investment between different levels of government but also offer regions the opportunity to explore new and existing funding tools.The aim is to deliver resilient infrastructure that supports sustained economic productivity.The Government plans to implement the Regional Deals in a phased manner, initially inviting up to five regions to submit basic proposals for consideration.Minister Brown was clear in his expectations: "We are not interested in seeing ratepayers’ money spent on extravagant proposal documents."The first of these Regional Deals is expected to be finalised by 2025, setting the stage for a transformative approach to regional development across New Zealand.

New Zealand is heading towards an electricity supply crisis.Months of dry weather have led to low hydro storage and that along with falling gas reserves are being blamed for soaring wholesale electricity prices.The crunch is already hurting businesses and forcing closures, with residential consumers next in line to feel the pinch.RNZ explains how we generate electricity, why demand is increasing, how that affects the cost and what could happen next.Where does our power come from?In New Zealand, electricity is generated through hydropower, geothermal power and wind energy - with generation from the combustion of coal, oil, and gas providing base load or backup electricity supply.Data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) showed that in 2023, 60 percent of New Zealand's electricity was generated through hydropower, 18 percent through geothermal, 9 percent through gas, 7 percent through wind and just over 2 percent from coal.Hydroelectric power is generated by using a dam or structure to alter the natural flow of a river or other body of water.It provides the majority of our electricity needs in Aotearoa through more than 100 hydroelectric generating plants, the largest of which are in the South Island in Mānapouri, Benmore and Clyde.Geothermal power plants use steam to produce electricity.The steam comes from reservoirs of hot water found below the earth's surface and most of New Zealand's geothermal generation comes from Taupō, with a small amount from Northland.Wind energy is generated across 21 onshore farms, where large turbines connected to generators that convert the wind's energy into electricity.Our largest wind farms are in Turitea, Tararua and the Hawke's Bay with construction underway on several more.Natural gas is sourced from six main gas fields in the Taranaki region, three onshore and three offshore.The electricity sector typically uses the most gas in winter when demand is highest.Several of our gas fields are naturally declining as their fuel depletes and the government has a transition plan to move away from using LPG and natural gas, to reduce emissions.Coal is used to generate electricity at the Huntly Power Station - the only coal and gas fired power plant in New Zealand.In 2023, 270,000 tonnes of coal was used to generate electricity, while a further 322,000 tonnes were used in cogeneration (when waste heat produced in an industrial process is turned into electricity).Electricity generation accounts for the largest amount of domestic coal use.How much power do we use?In 2023, New Zealand generated 43,474 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity and consumed 39,718 GWh.Households were the largest consumers, accounting for almost 35 percent of our total electricity consumption.The industrial sectors consumed nearly 33 percent, the commercial sector used 24 percent, while agriculture, forestry and fishing used six percent and transport, less than one percent.Our biggest industrial users were the wood, pulp, paper and printing sectors and the basic metals sectors, with the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter, at Tiwai Point in Southland, being the single largest user of electricity in the country, accounting for around 12.5 percent of our total electricity consumption.The Electricity Authority says so far in 2024, the monthly total electricity demand has been higher than the 2018-23 average.A warm summer and cool autumn has resulted in higher demand for heating and cooling, there has been additional demand for irrigation as dry conditions persisted through the summer and into autumn (particularly in Canterbury) and further demand from the electrification of transport, industrial processes and homes.The electricity generation mix also is subject to environmental changes. In the last week, hydro generation fell to 42 percent, while wind doubled to 12 percent.Why is power getting more expensive?New Zealand's electricity supply has come under immense strain in recent months as hydro lake levels drop after a dry summer and below normal rainfall, while falling gas reserves also contribute to driving up the cost of electricity.Since September 2021, wholesale electricity prices have risen from around $100 per megawatt hour (MWh) to an average of around $700 per MWh in early August, before falling to around $450 per MWh this week.Those rising costs are in part because New Zealand's hydro lake levels are at about 55 percent of the average of what they would normally be at this time of year, which is among the lowest levels in around 90 years of historic records.It comes as our natural gas production continues to decline, with data from MBIE showing the country is not going to produce enough gas to meet expected demand in at least the next three years.Electricity prices reflect the cost of the fuel used in their generation - so with a lack of hydro - the country is reliant using on more expensive fuel like gas, coal and sometimes even diesel to generate electricity.But others say there are systemic underlying problems with the market.Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones has accused the big power companies of profiteering and said advice was being sought on potential regulatory interventions.Independent retailers have raised concerns the gentailers (companies that both buy and sell electricity) have too much market power because they generate the power and sell it to their retail arms, potentially at lower prices than they offer to the wider market.Energy Minister Simeon Brown has called on the Electricity Authority to publicly report power data to ensure there is no price-gouging in the sector.What does this mean for us?If hydro lake levels remain low and high wholesale prices continue, the pressure will fall on retailers to increase their residential power prices in the coming months.Households have been somewhat insulated from the recent hikes, with retailers having purchased electricity on the market when prices were low, but that will not last forever.In response to the current high wholesale prices, some retailers had withdrawn from the market, or been less willing to take on new customers, rather than immediately putting up their prices.Last month, Electric Kiwi stopped taking new customers because of the high prices and warned that high wholesale power prices could push more small electricity retailers out of business.Meanwhile, businesses and households were being urged to go easy on electricity to avoid a supply crisis.The Major Electricity Users Group, whose members include Fonterra, New Zealand Steel, Oceana Gold, Visy and Woolworths NZ, said the current situation was concerning.Executive director Karen Boyes said a number of its members had rolling outage plans where a percentage of electricity was taken off to help manage tight supply and ideally they would be able to avoid a situation where households would start to feel the effects.Households and businesses could help by avoiding using appliances at the peak times if they were able.Winstone Pulp International announced on Tuesday its plans shut down Karioi Pulpmill and Tangiwai Sawmill indefinitely because of crippling electricity prices. It is the largest employer in the Ruapehu district, employing about 230 people.A final decision on the closure is expected on 9 September.What is being done about it?Transpower - which owns and operates the national grid - announced on Thursday it would allow generators to take more water from lakes Pūkaki, Tekapo and Hāwea during September and October.Executive general manager of operations, Chantelle Bramley, told RNZ in the worst case scenario, generators would be using that extra storage contingency from mid-September."This allows us about two months of additional electricity generation," Bramley said. "What this does is it buys us time for it to rain."But if conditions continued to deteriorate, the next stage would be an "official conservation campaign", where New Zealanders were called on to voluntarily reduce their electricity usage."At lot can change, we are not at this stage forecasting the need for conservation until January," Bramley said.Transpower must organise an conservation campaign, if hydro lake levels fall below what is known as the emergency risk curve and there is a 10 percent chance of running out of energy in the next 12 months.It would then call on the community to make voluntary electricity savings, in order to slow the draw down on hydro lake levels.If a conservation campaign was called, retailers would compensate consumers for reducing their electricity use.The amount is determined by the Electricity Authority and the minimum weekly amount is currently $12 per week.At that point, Transpower would consider if it had enough energy for the next 35 days and if not - would consider rolling outages.Earlier this month, New Zealand's biggest gas user, Methanex, announced a temporary shutdown of operations in a deal with Contact and Genesis Energy, to add extra gas supply to the system.The Tiwai Point aluminium smelter agreed to further reduce its energy use by another 20 megawatts (MW) to help ease the country's supply constraints.In July, it agreed to reduce its usage by 185 MW, which was about four per cent of the country's energy use.The Major Electricity Users Group was also conducting an investigation into what was driving high power prices and chair John Harbord said it had very low confidence the government and the Electricity Authority would address it.It was hoped the analysis would provide more detail about what was behind the high prices and some of the options to address them.Electricity Authority chief executive Sarah Gillies said there was no "silver bullet" for the country's fuel shortage issues.In response to calls from the government, the authority was now releasing a weekly dashboard, which allowed people to see the energy margins generators were making when selling into the wholesale electricity market.Gillies said it would give consumers much clearer visibility of which generators were doing well out of the electricity market each week and how New Zealand maintained security of supply.She told RNZ there was no evidence gentailers were deliberately keeping supply low to boost prices."The wholesale market is very complicated and at the moment it is unusually volatile. In times of scarce hydro supply, New Zealand is reliant on coal and gas to keep the lights on."Gillies said long-term investment in new energy production was crucial for New Zealand's future.

The list of invasive weeds threatening New Zealand's native plants and ecosystems has expanded, with 112 new species added to the Department of Conservation's (DOC) Environmental Weeds List in 2024.Among the new additions are species such as Chilean myrtle, Bangalow palm, and holly fern, all of which are increasing in both distribution and invasiveness.Like many of New Zealand's environmental weeds, these species originally came from garden plants.The updated list now includes 386 weeds, an 18% increase from the previous list in 2008, which only had 328 species.This year's list also broadens its scope to include all environmental weeds, regardless of their location, unlike the previous list, which focused solely on those found on DOC-administered land.DOC Science Advisor Dr. Kate McAlpine highlighted New Zealand’s vulnerability to invasive species, noting that the country hosts over 25,000 exotic plant species, a figure ten times greater than the number of native species.She explained that many introduced plants quickly naturalise, often through wind or bird dispersal, or by people dumping garden waste near bush reserves.The list also warns of 'sleeper' weeds like Himalayan wineberry and octopus tree, which are not yet established in the wild but have the potential to become fully invasive.Dr. McAlpine added that climate change could exacerbate the issue, as warmer temperatures and extreme weather events may enable these species to thrive in new areas of New Zealand.The DOC encourages the public to use the iNaturalist app to report weed sightings, helping environmental agencies track and manage the spread of these invasive species.See the full list here.

The Country's burgeoning aerospace industry is coming under scrutiny as experts warn of overlooked environmental impacts.A recent study by the University of Auckland highlights that while the sector is experiencing rapid growth, it may be neglecting crucial sustainability issues.Dr Priyanka Dhopade, leading the study, points out that the industry prioritises economic growth over environmental responsibility."The focus on expansion often overshadows sustainability, despite its potential long-term economic benefits," she says.The study, titled Sustainability within Aotearoa New Zealand’s Aerospace Sector: Current State and Implications for the Future, calls attention to the 'space sustainability paradox.'This dilemma questions whether space technology used to monitor Earth’s emissions might also contribute to environmental degradation.Moreover, the research notes that rocket launches add harmful particles to the atmosphere, threatening the ozone layer.The study underscores the need for a unified strategy to address these issues, suggesting that New Zealand could lead globally in sustainable aerospace practices.Despite these challenges, the study highlights the potential for the country to adopt innovative governance models, honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi while mitigating environmental impact.

Locals may notice a temporary halt in the availability of Australian tomatoes as Biosecurity New Zealand has suspended all tomato imports from Australia.This measure, which will be reviewed in seven days, follows the detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus at two growing properties in South Australia earlier this week.“We met this afternoon with our counterparts in Australia, who updated us on their response to the tomato virus detection,” said Stuart Anderson, deputy director-general of Biosecurity New Zealand.“Australia is actively tracing the source of the virus, and in response, we are extending our restrictions to cover all Australian states.”Earlier in the week, Biosecurity New Zealand had already implemented restrictions on tomato imports from all Australian states except Queensland.Anderson clarified that, currently, all imported tomatoes from Australia are sourced exclusively from Queensland, where no virus has been found.“There is no evidence to suggest the virus is present in New Zealand at this time,” Anderson assured.“We’re taking a cautious approach as our Australian counterparts continue their investigation.”The tomato brown rugose fruit virus causes yellowing and deformities in tomato plants but poses no threat to human health.Biosecurity New Zealand remains in close contact with the local tomato sector to ensure continued vigilance.Growers are encouraged to review their biosecurity practices and report any concerns to the pests and diseases hotline at 0800 80 99 66.Biosecurity New Zealand will monitor the situation closely and act as necessary to safeguard New Zealand's agricultural sector.

A daring overnight operation brought a dangerous driver to justice after a high-speed joyride through Wellsford. Coasties can breathe a sigh of relief as the 39-year-old man, who recklessly drove with stolen plates, faces court today.At approximately 4:15 am, police received reports of a vehicle speeding down State Highway One, sparking a swift response from the Police Eagle helicopter. The chopper tracked the driver, who accelerated rapidly and drove erratically, prompting concerns for public safety.Senior Sergeant Roger Small praised the coordinated effort, saying, "Eagle observed the vehicle's dangerous manoeuvres, and spikes were successfully deployed near Greville Road." The driver continued driving in the wrong direction on the motorway, narrowly avoiding several oncoming vehicles, before eventually stopping and being taken into custody without incident.The driver faces multiple charges, including reckless driving, failing to stop, and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle. Waitematā North Area Prevention Manager, Senior Sergeant Roger Small, emphasised the potential risks, stating, "These reckless actions had the potential to cause a serious crash and put other road users at risk."

Auckland Transport is welcoming nine new transport officers, bolstering numbers across the network as it tries to improve commuter safety.It's been a hot button issue in the super city, with a number of recent incidents on the network, including a vicious attack on a 16-year-old school boy on a bus in July.Auckland Transport says transport officers are vital to ensuring safety on buses, trains and ferries, and the new recruits RNZ spoke to say they're up to the task.After a six week training course, nine new transport officers were ready to set out across the city and they were keen to make a difference.Mark Kenneth Magat graduated about a month ago, and was already out on patrol."Basically, we're just patrolling by trains, buses, ferries, and then watching over the people, making sure that they're safe, checking their hop cards, tickets," he said.So far, he was finding the job easy."For me, I am a people person and when I approach them, I just smile, making them smile."I have this thinking that; if you're going to smile at people, they're going to smile at you," Magat said.He said he was still mindful about his own safety while out on patrol."In our training that's our first priority, our safety first before customer safety."If we feel that we are in danger, all we have to do is walk away."Auckland Transport had 120 incidents of violence, threats and aggression reported by bus operators across the network from January to June of this year.Compliance trainer Michael Moriarty was one of the people responsible for training up the recruits.He said the new cohort of transport officers were heading into challenging terrain."What we see is people who are suffering, and often, there seems to be a trend post-Covid where they're are a lot more aggressive, maybe, or assertive in terms of that suffering."He said it was important to have a level of understanding while on the job."When we see them for who they are, and they are human beings like you and me, they're just having tough times, when we understand that authority doesn't trump mana, and we treat people with dignity, then there's more of a chance that we'll have a positive interaction with them, and a safer interaction with them."And consequently, the other people in that moving tin can, be it a bus, or a train, or a ferry, also feel safe, so that's the paramount thing."Moriarty said the officers were warranted, meaning they could issue fines, or ask passengers who haven't paid their fares to get off the public transport.But he said the job was about more than enforcement."We want to make sure that the people that that we're recruiting and the people that we're training have a really mature, consistent, fair, and empathetic sense of the powers that they have, even though they're limited, that they don't see themselves as above the people that we actually serve, we we actually work alongside those people, not above them."First Union represented bus drivers in Auckland, and general secretary Dennis Maga said Auckland Transport's transport officers were a good safety measure, but more needed to be done."We've been discussing about having a cage or shield for drivers, but the concern of our members is that, even if ever there's a shield, we have to protect passengers as well," he said."They cannot help themselves, but to find a way how to respond if ever there is some violence happening within the bus."He said they were keen to see the impact more transport officers would have across the public transport network."We always believe that safe drivers, safe passengers, and better transport should be the focus of this government and the council, so we're looking forward to seeing the outcome to see the outcome of having nine transport officials to monitor the safety of the public."

Communities across the country are set to benefit from a $16.8 million funding boost aimed at accelerating recovery projects following the severe weather events of 2023. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the allocation as part of Budget 2024, with the funding specifically directed to local councils to speed up their priority recovery initiatives.The funding, drawn from the Cyclone Recovery Capability Fund, will be distributed among 12 councils, supporting 50 separate projects vital to the ongoing recovery efforts. These projects include geotechnical assessments for landslide-affected properties, road and bridge repairs, and the implementation of flood protection measures.Minister Mitchell emphasised the importance of this funding in enabling councils to secure the expertise and resources needed to expedite their recovery work. "Councils have said they require additional expertise to speed up their priority recovery projects, and this funding enables exactly that," he stated.The minister also highlighted the government's commitment to ensuring communities have certainty about their future and are better protected against the impacts of future weather events. "Strengthening resilience is also the focus for a number of these projects to reduce the impact from future weather events and protect communities from future flooding," he added.As recovery remains an ongoing process, this financial support underscores the government's dedication to assisting councils in rebuilding and fortifying the affected areas, ensuring regions across the country can recover swiftly and effectively from last year's devastating weather events.

On Tuesday, 20th of August, Hato Hone St John reminded the Public to save 111 phone calls for absolutely life-threatening emergencies when strike action took place. Members from the New Zealand Ambulance Association and First Union agreed to miss the first four hours of their shift from Tuesday 4 am until Wednesday 4 am. This is the first time the associations have escalated to a labour withdrawal from the frontline. The most critical times are often between 6 am and 10 am and 6 pm and 10 pm.Those times are when 75 per cent are rostered to work. This strike came after little progress had been made following negotiations with ACC and Health New Zealand. After 19 months, negotiations broke down after unions still demanded improved offers. The hope of this strike is that a recommendation will be made to parliamentary ministers, allowing more money for the ambulance service to increase the compensation of St John’s staff. Ambulance Association secretary Mark Quin notes this is “not a new issue but it's just come to the point now where staff have had enough.” The parties involved are not due to meet again until the end of the month. Following this strike, a second industrial action planned for Saturday, beginning at 4 am, will still go as planned.

Coasties looking to support local agriculture have a new opportunity. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is expanding its On Farm Support Science Scholarships for 2025, aiming to enhance on-the-ground support for farmers and growers across New Zealand.Dr John Roche, MPI’s Director of On Farm Support, emphasised the initiative’s importance. “Ensuring farmers and growers receive adequate support is crucial to achieving the government’s goal of doubling the value of exports within the next decade,” Dr Roche said. “A skilled advisory sector is vital for providing specialised, on-site advice and extension services.”The expanded programme will offer six scholarships, totalling $30,000, to tertiary students enrolled in agriculture, horticulture, science, or viticulture degrees. Applications are open to students from Massey, Lincoln, Otago, and Waikato universities, as well as the Eastern Institute of Technology and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, who have completed their first year of study.Scholarship recipients will benefit from mentoring and development opportunities with MPI’s On Farm Support team. Nerissa Edwards, a 2024 recipient studying at Massey University, highlighted the programme’s impact. “The scholarship has connected me with industry professionals and led to an internship, which has been invaluable,” Edwards noted.Jed McCready, another 2024 recipient from Lincoln University, found the financial support and mentorship particularly beneficial. “The scholarship eased financial pressure and allowed me to focus on my studies, while networking with farmers and professionals,” McCready said.Applications for the MPI On Farm Support Science Scholarships are open from 19 August to 16 September 2024.

Auckland Airport has reported a strong financial performance for the fiscal year ending 30 June 2024, driven by a significant increase in passenger numbers. Coasties will be interested to know that total passenger numbers surged to 18.5 million, marking a 17% rise compared to the previous year. Domestic travel saw a 5% increase, reaching 8.5 million passengers, while international passengers, including those transiting, rose by 29% to 10.1 million.Auckland Airport Chair Patrick Strange attributed this growth to the return of international airline capacity. “The lift in capacity, particularly on North American routes with a 48% increase in available seats, has not only benefited Kiwis but led to a 40% growth in North American visitors – an important economic driver for New Zealand’s tourism industry,” said Strange. Additionally, connectivity with China has improved, with seat capacity surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 2%, further boosting tourism.Infrastructure and Financial HighlightsThe airport’s revenue grew by 43%, reaching NZD 895.5 million, and the operating EBITDAFI (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, Amortisation, and Fair Value Adjustments) increased by 55% to NZD 614.0 million. Despite these gains, reported profit after tax dropped by 87% to NZD 5.5 million, reflecting the airport’s continued investment in infrastructure.Chief Executive Carrie Hurihanganui noted that Auckland Airport is taking a careful approach to cost management due to the current economic environment. The airport's terminal integration programme, which connects the international terminal with the new domestic jet terminal, is progressing, with 20% of the project already completed. "We’re making positive progress," Hurihanganui said, highlighting the benefits the new infrastructure will bring to both tourism and trade.Ongoing Developments and Future OutlookThe airport is also focusing on sustainability, having achieved a 25% reduction in direct carbon emissions compared to 2019 levels. Looking ahead to the 2025 financial year, Auckland Airport expects passenger numbers to continue rising, with projections of 8.6 million domestic and 10.5 million international passengers. However, ongoing challenges, including global aircraft supply issues and economic headwinds, remain a concern.As the airport continues to expand and modernise its facilities, it is committed to ensuring that Auckland remains a key gateway for travellers and trade in New Zealand.

Coasties, a routine traffic stop in central Auckland led to a significant haul of illegal items early this morning. Police recovered a firearm, methamphetamine, ammunition, and more than $3,000 in cash after pulling over a silver sedan on Vincent Street around 12:30 am.Detectives from Auckland City’s Crime Squad were conducting a routine check when they spotted a cannabis bong in the vehicle. This discovery prompted a more thorough search, which revealed not only cannabis but also an empty shell casing. Upon further inspection, officers found a sawn-down rifle with a magazine and a quantity of methamphetamine.Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend noted, “Crime Squad carried out a further search of the vehicle for drugs and located cannabis and an empty shell casing. Following a further search of the vehicle, a sawn-down rifle with a magazine was located along with methamphetamine.”In addition to the drugs and firearm, officers also found additional rounds of ammunition and drug paraphernalia. All three occupants of the vehicle—a 23-year-old man, a 24-year-old woman, and a 25-year-old man—were arrested at the scene.The 23-year-old driver and 24-year-old passenger face multiple charges, including possession for supply of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a pistol, and unlawful possession of ammunition. They are appearing in the Auckland District Court today.The third occupant, a 25-year-old man, had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court and was also taken into custody.“This is another good example of our staff remaining vigilant in the community,” Detective Senior Sergeant Friend stated. “Every day Police continue to work to remove harmful drugs and firearms from circulation within our communities.”

Locals may be pleased to hear that Auckland Council has once again surpassed its annual operating savings target. In the 2023/24 financial year, the council saved $60.2 million, exceeding its $50 million target by $10.2 million. These savings contribute to a total of $332 million saved over the past three years.The savings report was presented at the Revenue, Expenditure and Value Committee meeting, where Chair Maurice Williamson expressed satisfaction with the results. "This year, we've overshot the target and gathered an additional $10.2 million in savings, demonstrating discipline through a line-by-line approach to our spending," said Cr Williamson.The $10.2 million in additional savings will contribute to lower net debt for the council’s financial year ending on 30 June 2024, positioning the council favourably for the new financial year. Mayor Wayne Brown highlighted the importance of these savings, noting that they reflect a continued effort to ensure cost efficiencies for Aucklanders. "We must make savings and cut costs for Aucklanders. This is more evidence the ship is turning," he said.The savings were achieved through various initiatives, including reducing the corporate property footprint, optimising maintenance, and integrating service centres into libraries. Auckland Council Chief Executive Phil Wilson credited the council's "culture of efficiency" for the strong results, emphasising the importance of using community funds effectively to build trust with ratepayers.

Some Coasties are buzzing as the Government steps in to manage companies associated with the Auckland-based Du Val Group. The development giant, known for large-scale residential projects, has been placed into statutory management, according to Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly.The intervention comes after Du Val Group entered interim receivership, leaving substantial liabilities in its wake. The company, which comprises around 70 entities, including 46 subsidiaries and 20 special purpose vehicle limited partnerships, is tangled in a complex web of financial obligations. This has left 120-150 investors, home buyers, and commercial lenders concerned about their stakes.Minister Bayly noted that statutory management is a last-resort measure aimed at preventing further harm and ensuring an orderly process. “By placing Du Val into statutory management, all current insolvency processes are suspended, enabling the affairs to be dealt with by one team of people,” he stated.The decision follows a recommendation by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) after ongoing investigations and a report from the Court-appointed interim receivers. Effective today, the order, approved by the Governor-General, applies to four core Du Val corporations and 20 associated limited partnerships, along with 46 subsidiaries.Statutory managers John Fisk, Stephen White, and Lara Bennett of PwC New Zealand will now oversee the process, following their recent High Court appointment as interim receivers for the Du Val Group.

At least 200 residents were evacuated from the Aura Apartments after a fire Thursday morning.The fire has now been extinguished.Before 6am smoke could be seen coming out of the top of the building, and from a vent on the roadside.Five fire trucks were at the building at the corner of Cook and Nelson streets.Fire and Emergency said they were called to the incident around 5.30am.It said the fire was in an apartment on the 9th level and that it had been extinguished by the sprinkler system.Firefighters rescued two people who were asleep in an apartment where the e-scooter had caught fire, Assistant fire commander Barry Thomas said.Thomas said the pair rescued from the apartment were assessed by St John ambulance and were fine.Evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes.Electric scooter batteries are the suspected cause.