Public transport users across Auckland can expect to see a greater police presence on buses, trains, and ferries as authorities work to enhance safety for both passengers and workers. The decision follows a tragic incident in Onehunga, prompting the government to respond with measures aimed at ensuring security across the public transport network.Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the increase in police patrols to provide reassurance to the public and to deter anti-social behaviour.“This attack has shaken Aucklanders, and particularly public transport users. The Government utterly condemns this senseless and horrific loss of life and is taking action to make public transport safer,” Mr. Mitchell stated.Police Minister Mark Mitchell.In addition to bolstering police presence, the government has set aside $15 million in Budget 2024 to fund immediate safety improvements. These upgrades include installing protective screens and real-time CCTV monitoring on public transport vehicles to enhance security for both staff and passengers.Mr. Brown noted that further changes may be on the horizon. The Sentencing (Reform) Amendment Bill could soon include provisions making offences against public transport passengers an aggravating factor during sentencing, a move aimed at reinforcing safety across the network. “This is about making sure that public transport remains safe for everyone, whether you are a worker or a passenger,” he commented.The Ministry of Transport and the NZ Transport Agency are working with Police and Public Transport Authorities to establish a consistent nationwide approach to addressing anti-social or violent incidents on public transport.

Locals on the Hibiscus Coast may soon notice a resurgence in property investor activity as interest in the market gains momentum. Recent data from Trade Me Property shows an uptick in searches for investment-related terms such as “income” and “rental,” with some searches experiencing double-digit growth since January.Between July 2023 and July 2024, searches for “income” rose by 6.3%, while searches including “rental” jumped by 12.3%. Interest in “investment property” saw the most significant increase, up by 41%. The rise in investor activity follows legislative changes that have created a more favourable environment for landlords, including the reinstatement of some mortgage interest deductibility and relaxed Brightline test rules.Gavin Lloyd, Trade Me Property’s Customer Director, noted that these changes are likely to encourage more investors to re-enter the market. “Any surge in property investor activity is important news for owner-occupiers and first-home buyers, who have had more of the playing field to themselves over the last couple of years,” Lloyd said.CoreLogic, a property analytics firm, echoed this trend in its latest report, with Head of Research Nick Goodall suggesting that smaller investors, especially “Mum and Dad” types, are beginning to test the waters again. "As the gap between mortgage rates and rental yields narrows, it makes sense for some investors to take another look at the market," Goodall said.Auckland-based investor Richard Gilbert, who owns several properties, believes it’s a good time to consider expanding a portfolio. “If you’ve got the deposit and the financing stacks up, there’s no need to rush – take your time to find the right opportunity,” said Gilbert.While signs of investor interest are clear, the New Zealand Property Investors Federation (NZPIF) cautions that potential hurdles remain. These include rising costs for maintenance and insurance, as well as static rent prices. However, Matt Ball, Advocacy Manager at NZPIF, confirmed that conditions are steadily improving, especially for well-funded investors who are ready to act.

Coasties have come together to support a community-led mowing initiative at Gulf Harbour Country Club (GHCC), with the project officially kicking off on Monday morning, 21 October.This effort, spearheaded by a small team of volunteers, aims to maintain the club’s grounds and is backed by donations from local businesses.While KWGS is not directly involved in the mowing itself, they have played a vital role in coordinating resources and developing an action plan for the operation.The group has been instrumental in gathering volunteers and is overseeing the collection of donations to cover the mowers’ operational expenses.“We’re so grateful for the support we’ve received from locals,” said the Secretary of KWGS.“Without the help of the community and local businesses, this wouldn’t have been possible.”So far, 30 volunteers have stepped forward to assist in the clean-up of the course grounds.Organisers have plans to provide video instructions to volunteers by the evening of Monday, 28 October.Those still interested in helping are encouraged to reach out via email to register.For those wishing to contribute financially, KWGS is currently accepting donations on behalf of the mowing group, ensuring that all operational costs are covered.Donations can be made via bank transfer or credit card through their official page.

As the long-awaited Labour Weekend approaches, locals on the Hibiscus Coast are being urged to plan ahead to avoid getting caught in heavy traffic.NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has warned of significant delays on key state highways, especially for those heading north or south on State Highway 1.The NZTA's updated Holiday Journeys planner offers predicted traffic conditions for popular routes, based on previous years' travel patterns.According to NZTA Regional Manager for Maintenance and Operations, Jacqui Hori-Hoult, Coasties can avoid the worst congestion by travelling outside of peak hours, particularly on Friday afternoon and Monday.“In Northland, traffic heading north on SH1 is expected to be heavy from late Friday morning through until 7 pm, with the busiest time between 2 pm and 6 pm.Southbound delays are expected throughout the weekend, with peak times on Friday afternoon, Saturday late morning, and Monday between 11 am and 3 pm,” says Hori-Hoult.For those heading south from the Hibiscus Coast, traffic between Puhoi and Wellsford will be busiest on Friday from midday to 7.30 pm and again on Monday, with delays expected between 10 am and 6.30 pm.Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and check live travel updates via the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website.To ensure safe travel, NZTA advises drivers to maintain safe following distances, share driving responsibilities to avoid fatigue, and take breaks along the way. Ms Hori-Hoult reminds locals, “You’re on holiday—there’s no need to rush. Drive to the conditions, take your time, and stay safe.”

Welcome to This Week’s News Recap!Catch up on the top local stories from the past week before the weekend hits.We’ve rounded up the must-know headlines so you’re fully informed about our community.Missed something or just need a quick update? We’ve got you covered.Dive into this week’s key events now!Milldale Bridge Construction Reaches Final StagesRead moreKiwi Slip 'n Slide Coming to SilverdaleRead more Bus Shelters Under Review for MillwaterRead moreKeep Whangaparāoa's Green Spaces Seeks LiquidationRead more Victim Identified in Gulf Harbour HomicideRead moreStay Informed and Connected.Get all your local updates at your fingertips.From breaking news and local business finds to job listings and events—our app has it all.Don’t wait for the recap. Explore the Hibiscus Coast App now and stay ahead!

Coasties, after months of investigation, police have confirmed the identity of the woman found in a bag in Gulf Harbour.Shulai Wang, a 70-year-old from China, was discovered in the water on 12 March, prompting an intensive inquiry to piece together her story.Acting Detective Inspector Tim Williams, who is leading the investigation with the Waitematā CIB, shared that identifying Mrs Wang involved extensive work by detectives both in New Zealand and China.Recently, members of the Operation Parade team travelled to China to assist in confirming her identity, a process that had taken months due to the international nature of the case.“Since launching this investigation, detectives have worked tirelessly to understand the events leading up to Mrs Wang’s death,” said Detective Williams.Mrs Wang had arrived in New Zealand from China in August 2023, and while she was not reported missing, authorities have now informed her family back home.Efforts are currently underway to coordinate her repatriation.Two individuals, both aged 37, have been charged with interfering with human remains and are awaiting further proceedings.Police have confirmed that the investigation remains active, with updates expected as more details come to light.Detective Williams acknowledged that the community has questions, adding, “Our team is working around the clock to find answers for Mrs Wang’s family and the community.”

Locals across Auckland, including the Hibiscus Coast, are seeing steady progress in housing development, as the latest data from the Auckland Council Land Use Research and Evaluation Team reveals.In August 2024, 1,228 new dwellings were consented, marking a continued effort to meet Auckland’s growing housing demand. Over the past 12 months, a total of 13,748 homes have been consented. Of those consented in August, 34% were standalone houses, while 63% comprised townhouses, units, and retirement village dwellings, showing a trend towards more diverse living options. Apartments made up 3% of the consents.The vast majority—94%—of these new builds were located inside the Rural Urban Boundary (RUB), with 1,152 of August’s dwellings falling within these limits. A further 20% of the newly consented homes are within walking distance of Auckland’s rapid transit network, offering convenient options for those relying on public transport.Social housing projects also remain a priority, with 31 new dwellings consented on land owned by Kainga Ora or the Tamaki Regeneration Company in August.One issue that may concern locals is the number of homes consented on properties overlapping hazard zones. Of the homes consented last month, 152—roughly 12%—were situated in these zones, a figure that has remained consistent over the past year.On a positive note, 1,186 homes were officially completed in August, meaning they have been issued a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) and are now ready for occupancy. In the 12 months leading up to August, a total of 18,886 homes were completed across Auckland, indicating continued progress.The Auckland housing market continues to see significant activity, offering locals more options while aiming to meet growing demand.

As Coasties prepare for a long-awaited Labour Weekend, police and the NZ Transport Agency are urging locals to prioritise safety on the roads.With more traffic expected, especially around major cities, authorities want drivers to remember the basics to keep everyone safe.Superintendent Steve Greally, Director of Road Policing, reinforced the importance of vigilance."Our teams are out patrolling the roads, focusing on reducing harm. There’s no room for complacency," he said."We all have a responsibility to drive safely. Six lives were lost on Labour Weekend last year, and we are determined not to see a repeat."Road safety remains a high priority for law enforcement, with local police operations focusing on dangerous driving behaviour."Those caught speeding, using mobile phones, or driving under the influence will face enforcement action," Superintendent Greally warned.NZTA’s Director of Land Transport, Brent Alderton, echoed the message, advising drivers to stay cautious, especially with increased traffic."We’re asking everyone to make safe choices to protect themselves and others. Drive at a safe speed, especially around road works," Alderton said.For those heading out on the road, NZTA has updated its Holiday Hotspots Journey Planning Tool, which predicts traffic flow based on previous years.Drivers are encouraged to use the tool to plan their trips and avoid delays.The official Labour Day holiday weekend begins at 4 pm on Friday, 25 October, and ends at 6 am on Tuesday, 29 October 2024.The lowest Labour Weekend road toll was in 2013, with one death and 109 injuries.The highest was in 1983, when 13 people died and 248 were injured.

Mid-sized business sentiment is being lifted by rising sales and production in the lead up to Christmas.Accounting software company MYOB's latest survey shows more than three quarters believe the economy will improve in the next 12 months.That is the highest level of confidence in three years for firms with 20 to 500 workers and turnover of more than $5 million.MYOB spokesperson Anna-Louise Hoffmann said almost two thirds said revenue is up on a year ago, showing customer demand is returning."Most businesses, I think it was more than eight in 10, have reported that they've got more work or sales lined up in the pipeline for the next couple of months than they'd usually expect, which is really encouraging."What is also even more encouraging is that for about a third of these businesses, more than 60 percent of their sales or pipelined work is coming from new customers so that will also be helping to boost confidence and the outlook somewhat as well."Hoffmann said mid-sized firms have more resources than small businesses, so they have withstood the economic downturn better."These are businesses equipped with more financial capital and human resource than our local small businesses. So, because of this they tend to be in a better position to invest in changes or improvements in their business, spend on things like innovation and therefore adapt faster when these challenges occur."It's certainly unusual to see this strong performance given what we've been hearing around market conditions this year but it's definitely not a like for like comparison with smaller enterprises for some of those reasons."

Looking ahead, Coasties can expect the next four days to bring the following:Friday - 25/10Mostly cloudy. Fairly breezy Northerly winds.High: 22Low: 16Saturday - 26/10Rainy and windy. Breezy to brisk Northerly winds.High: 20Low: 13Sunday - 27/10Partly cloudy. Breezy to brisk West to Nor'West winds.High: 19Low: 12Monday - 28/10Windy and partly cloudy. Breezy to brisk Westerly winds.High: 17Low: 12Get real-time weather updates, tide information, wind conditions, wave forecasts, recommended swimming areas, and lots more.Anytime, anywhere – everything you need is inside the Hibiscus Coast App.

Locals may soon witness changes at Gulf Harbour Country Club as Keep Whangaparāoa’s Green Spaces (KWGS) has filed to place Gulf Harbour Country Club 2016 Limited (GHCC 2016 Ltd) into liquidation.A formal notice was posted in the New Zealand Gazette, with a liquidation hearing scheduled for 29 November at 10:45 am at the Auckland High Court.The move follows claims by GHCC members, seeking reimbursement of fees that were previously upheld by the Disputes Tribunal.According to the tribunal, GHCC 2016 Ltd owes approximately $50,000 in total.The options for GHCC 2016 Ltd are clear: pay the outstanding debt, contest the claim, or take no action.Should the debt be paid, the matter would be resolved, with any future disputes requiring separate legal proceedings.However, contesting the debt may prove difficult, as it is largely based on tribunal rulings in favour of the members.If GHCC 2016 Ltd does not respond by the hearing date, the court will proceed, potentially declaring the company in liquidation.Once liquidators are appointed, other creditors—including former employees and additional club members—can apply for payment of their claims.KWGS legal advisor Chris Gedye urges anyone with a claim against GHCC 2016 Ltd to submit a proof of debt form via email.Interested parties can request the pre-filled form from KWGS by contacting [email protected]

Auckland is celebrating a massive windfall after a local Powerball player claimed an astonishing $30.2 million in last night’s Lotto draw.The lucky ticket, purchased at Albany Central Superette, brings home a staggering $30 million from Powerball First Division, along with an additional $200,000 from Lotto First Division. The winner now joins the exclusive club of 2024’s Powerball multi-millionaires — the seventeenth to do so this year.Earlier this September, a Hibiscus Coast couple won $4.3 million, using their winnings to pay off their mortgage and complete renovations. Now, the spotlight shifts to Auckland, where Coasties are eager to see how the latest multi-millionaire will celebrate their good fortune.In addition to the Powerball win, four other Lotto players from Whangārei, Auckland, Christchurch, and Canterbury each took home $200,000 from Lotto First Division. Meanwhile, Strike Four has rolled over and is set at $800,000 for Saturday night’s draw.Lotto New Zealand urges all players to check their tickets either in-store, through MyLotto, or via the MyLotto App. The Powerball First Division winner is advised to contact the Lotto NZ Customer Support team on 0800 695 6886 to begin the prize claim process.

A dog walkers' group have raised concerns over the proposal to change Auckland's dog management rules to limit the number of dogs one person can walk.Auckland Council is reviewing the Policy on Dogs 2019 and Dog Management Bylaw 2019 with a final decision in 2025.The Professional Dog Walkers Association raised their concerns at the Franklin Local Board meeting on Tuesday, specifically on the proposal to limit the number of dogs one person may walk both on and off-leash."The first issue that we would like to make you aware of is the lack of information and evidence that there is an issue in the Auckland area with this," Peter Spick said."Council data presented to you showed only 0.7 percent of all complaints last year are related to walking multiple dogs."That in terms of actual numbers comes to about 10, he said."Which is a completely insignificant number when you consider the 38 percent of all complaints related to roaming dogs."And that number was increasing 50 percent from the year before."He said the real issue for Animal Management and Auckland was roaming dogs, "not those out there walking and exercising dogs".Spick said the effect of the proposal to limit dogs being walked would impact local residents."We know that the majority of complaints are around roaming and barking, and research from the SPCA shows that in 2018 only 30 percent of dog owners were walking their dogs daily."So professional dog walkers or dog walkers who walk multiple dogs provide a valuable service to your residents in your local constituency who need to commute long distances in order to work."It allows them to go to work safely knowing their dogs are well exercised."Other key draft changes was the amendment or clarification on dog access rules in 14 regional parks, and clarity on some existing rules in the Policy and Bylaw."Placing a limit on walking multiple dogs would remove a large majority of professional dog walkers in the Auckland region."... or increase their prices massively in order to service a fewer number of residents, making the service basically prohibited to most people."The Franklin Local Board and other Auckland boards, with public feedback, would provide its views on the draft proposed change.The Regulatory and Safety Committee will consider the local board views in December and recommend a proposal to the Governing Body.Public consultation on the proposal is scheduled for early 2025, deliberations in June and final Governing Body decision in July.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

Coasties will benefit from a significant boost to emergency services, with Hato Hone St John set to receive over $21 million in additional government funding. Associate Minister of Health Casey Costello and Minister for ACC Matt Doocey announced the increase today, bringing the total government support for St John’s ambulance and communication services to nearly $357 million for the 2024/25 financial year.“Hato Hone St John provides an essential service by ensuring people receive timely treatment in an emergency. This is a significant uplift in a constrained financial environment,” Ms Costello said, highlighting the importance of the funding.The new funding is aimed at ensuring St John’s emergency road ambulance services continue to operate effectively, particularly as healthcare demand rises across New Zealand. Mr Doocey echoed the sentiment, stressing the need for well-funded emergency services.“This investment will ensure the ongoing delivery of Hato Hone St John’s emergency road ambulance service. We know that adequate funding of our road ambulance services is essential to ensuring New Zealanders have access to emergency health care,” Mr Doocey said.The announcement follows positive developments in negotiations between Hato Hone St John and its unions, which have now been settled. This resolution removes the threat of industrial action that could have affected emergency services.“We know Health NZ and ACC have worked closely with Hato Hone St John to minimise disruption and ensure essential services remain available,” added Ms Costello.For locals on the Hibiscus Coast, the funding increase means reassurance that critical emergency services will remain uninterrupted, with St John continuing to provide its life-saving support across the region.

Coasties, prepare for the impact of climate change on our health.The Ministry of Health has introduced New Zealand’s first Health National Adaptation Plan, aimed at tackling the growing health challenges posed by climate change.Deputy Director-General of Health, Dr Andrew Old, highlighted the increasing threats, noting that climate change can disrupt essential health services and introduce new health risks such as heatwaves and emerging diseases like dengue fever."Climate change impacts both our environment and our ability to lead healthy lives within it," Dr Old stated."Adapting to these challenges now offers opportunities to enhance our health system and make communities more resilient."Key actions outlined in the plan include conducting a national climate health assessment and developing heatwave response strategies, including a national heat warning system.Additionally, the plan will evaluate the health impacts of recent extreme weather events and identify strategies for improving urban infrastructure, such as increasing green spaces and tree coverage in urban areas.Developed by the Public Health Agency in collaboration with Health NZ and other partners, this plan marks an essential step towards safeguarding the health of New Zealanders as climate challenges grow.

The government's newly revamped school lunch programme is set to save taxpayers over $130 million a year, while continuing to provide healthy, affordable meals to students. Announced by Associate Education Minister David Seymour, the initiative aims to streamline costs and improve the quality of meals for schools across the country.The programme, launching at the start of Term 1 next year, leverages private sector expertise to deliver meals at $3 each, well below the previous cost of $8.68 per student under the previous system. Meal options will include dishes like butter chicken curry, chicken katsu, lasagne, and wraps, with students in years 0 to 8 receiving 240-gram portions, and older students getting larger meals with extras such as fruit or yoghurt.“Every student receiving a school lunch today will continue to do so from day one of Term 1 next year,” said Seymour, who credited businesses like Compass Group and Gilmours for helping reduce costs through supply chain efficiencies. Schools that prepare meals internally will receive additional funding to continue employing staff and sourcing ingredients through government-negotiated deals.The initiative is expected to have a positive impact on schoolchildren, while ensuring better value for taxpayers through the new model. Schools will continue to offer both hot and cold meal options, with a focus on providing nutritious, balanced meals for students of all ages.

Locals in Millwater may soon see new bus shelters on Bankside Road, as Auckland Transport (AT) has begun investigating the addition of shelters at two stops.The stops, located at 4553 and 4546, currently lack protection from the elements, leaving commuters, including school children, vulnerable to the weather.Coasties are no strangers to sudden downpours, and without bus shelters, residents waiting for public transport risk being caught in the rain.Many areas on the Hibiscus Coast have few, if any, covered bus stops, raising questions about the fairness of shelter distribution across the region.For instance, on Arran Drive in Millwater, there are four bus shelters within a few hundred metres of each other, while Bankside Road has none.Auckland Transport responded to enquiries from the Hibiscus Coast App, confirming that they are conducting a detailed investigation this financial year to assess the feasibility of installing shelters at the Bankside Road stops.According to AT’s email, the process includes design, internal and external consultations, which could take 6-8 months.Following that, construction may require an additional 3-4 months, depending on contractor availability and weather conditions.AT is expected to provide further updates in 2025 on the project’s progress.

Coasties, like many retailers across New Zealand, are heading into the final quarter with renewed hope, despite tough trading conditions earlier this year. According to Retail NZ’s latest Retail Radar survey, 65% of local businesses now feel confident about their future, up from 58% last quarter.With Labour Weekend, Black Friday, and Christmas sales on the horizon, 57% of retailers expect to meet or exceed their sales targets for the critical October–December period. This optimism marks a notable shift from Q3, where only 32% felt they would hit their goals.Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young pointed out the importance of these final months: “The fourth quarter is crucial for retailers. Strong sales over this period help many businesses build a financial cushion for the quieter months ahead.”Despite the positive outlook, challenges remain. Around 43% of businesses still worry they won’t reach their sales goals, and inflation continues to be a concern, affecting 75% of survey respondents. However, the survey shows that concerns about inflation have eased slightly, down from 80% in the previous quarter.Other challenges, such as rising freight costs and insurance premiums, persist, but the overall mood appears to be one of cautious optimism. While Q3 saw 70% of retailers failing to meet targets, the signs of economic improvement—such as drops in the OCR and inflation—are fostering hope for a brighter Q4.

Popular virtual game Roblox is a hunting ground for sex offenders looking to exploit young New Zealand-based victims, according to an online safety group.Roblox users can create an avatar or online character and choose their hair, clothes and accessories, before joining in a number of games or experiences.The platform also had a social media element to it where people could message, accept friend requests, or go into a chat room.Police would not name specific gaming sites, but Detective Senior Sergeant Kepal Richards from the online child exploitation unit said there had been cases of sex offenders grooming young New Zealand gamers online, encouraging x-rated conversations and the sharing of inappropriate images."The offenders, for example, will use these gaming platforms or social media applications to strike up conversations in relationships with young people before requesting to move their conversation to another application or messaging service," he said."Once here, they'll engage in indecent communications; they'll share or encourage the sharing of [sexually] explicit imagery [and] other criminal offences, such as blackmail in the form of sextortion."New Zealand children did often fall victim to this kind of offending, he said."We get referrals out of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which is based in America, and they routinely see instances where children have been targeted on such sites as gaming applications or also social media websites."Predators could groom children to go into a private chat room, he said."Some of the gaming applications, for example, don't allow the sharing of imagery, so these offenders will encourage them to go to applications or messaging services that do allow that to happen, such as video calling or the sharing of photos."It's there that they'll start to encourage the sending of sexually explicit material, or just taking the conversation to an indecent nature."Our Kids Online co-founder Rob Cope told Checkpoint Roblox was one of the biggest sexual predator grooming grounds in the world.After giving hundreds of talks across the country, parents, school teachers and principals had approached him with stories."A lot of them, if they're not to do with social media, which is like a massive problem, then it's Roblox."One principal, in particular, said there were three Year 8 girls who all sent nudes to the same predator on Roblox over a very short period of time."The girls were aged between 12 and 13 years old."I think the avatar's name was something like Handsome Stranger or something - it was pretty obvious to an adult that's probably not a great person to be talking to online," he said."The thing with Roblox is they fully deny that any of this actually happens, which is weird because any online platform where you can talk to strangers there's going to be predators on there, hunting."Roblox is a popular game among children. Photo: RICCARDO MILANI / AFPWhen he was making a documentary a few years ago, Cope said many people told him about "sex rooms" that could be found on Roblox."I just went on to YouTube and typed in Roblox sex and there are a whole lot of different videos where people who had been in these and they just video captured what was going on."It was an aggressive form of grooming, he said."I mean, predators would describe it like it's shooting fish in a barrel because most of us parents would just let our kids on Roblox and think it's a harmless game."The whole concept of Roblox is it's a fun game. It's a social game. You're walking around talking to strangers all the time, but a predator is going to hunt where their prey hang out, right?"To combat this, parents could lock certain controls down, so children communicated only with their friends, he said - however children's friends may also be strangers."A lot of kids will just make friends with complete strangers online, because someone will friend-request them. They go, 'Cool, we've got another friend.'"The parents might be locking down, 'OK, you can only talk to your friends.' But your kid has 500 friends on Roblox."I remember my son, when he was about nine, he's playing Roblox, and one day he goes, 'Dad, I've got 100 friends on Roblox.'"I'm like, 'Wow, that's a lot - and how many of these people do you actually know?' He [said], 'Three.'"I'm like, 'Right. So you're friends with 97 strangers?' "In Roblox, users could speak to other avatars in the virtual world."There's ... speech bubbles above everyone and as you walk past, you can just stand right next to someone and type in something in the computer and it will come up as a speech bubble above your character," he said."You can even actually talk to people on the game as well, like voice to voice. All you have to do is have a phone and say that you're 13 years old and they'll send a code to your phone, and now you're verified as a 13-year-old and you can voice talk to people, so you can literally be physically talking to strangers online as well, not just messaging."There were supposedly different age levels in the game, but anyone could access them, he said."There's nine-plus, 13-plus, 17 plus, but I think anyone can get into it. I'm not that familiar with it. I just hear the horror stories from parents and principals."Parents were unable to tell how old an avatar was and where they were, he said."I always tell parents, the main thing you need to do is no devices in bedrooms or bathrooms at all. If your kids [are] playing any kind of game, that should be out on the kitchen table where you can see what's going on, it's being monitored. You're looking over their shoulder every once in a while; you have the rules."A predator will sneak in with a kid and become their friend, and then you'll become that friend. Because you'll say, oh, no, I know this person. It's a friend of a friend, but you don't actually know that person."I kind of say to parents gaming's cool, it's fun. But it's like ice cream. It should be something you do every once in a while and you have a little bit. It's not something that you're doing for hours and hours a day."