Coasties will be interested to know that the Government has announced increased support for job seekers receiving benefits. Up to 70,000 individuals will now have access to comprehensive needs assessments and personalised job plans to help them overcome challenges and find employment.According to Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston, "Individual Job Plans are a significant step forward in the Government's efforts to provide welfare that works for all New Zealanders." The initiative aims to reduce the number of people on Jobseeker Support by 50,000 by 2030.To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) will offer phone-based case management to an additional 10,000 people, increasing the total number of individuals with employment case managers to 70,000. Each job seeker will receive a comprehensive work-readiness needs assessment, examining factors such as education, transport, addiction, health, and childcare issues. Case managers will then work with individuals to create personalised plans addressing these challenges.Minister Upston noted, "Many of those who are at risk of long-term welfare dependency have complex backgrounds and may require more help to address all the issues affecting their employability." The new initiative aims to provide targeted support, including work-readiness, literacy and numeracy training, driver training, mental health services, counselling, and addiction support.While the increased support will come with responsibility, job seekers who fail to meet agreed-upon work-testable actions may face sanctions through the new Traffic Light System.

With each day growing warmer, you might be inching that step closer towards your first cold plunge of the summer.But there are a few things to consider before you dive in.For one thing, our beaches aren't really ever 'safe' or 'unsafe' to swim in.Safeswim's independent Head of Science Martin Neale explains.It's not 'safe' or 'not safe' to swimSafeswim is a water quality programme offering information on swimming conditions and safety hazards around beaches in New Zealand.It's an important tool to consider before you head out for a swim, but it's equally important to remember the programme is 'risk-based', Neale says.Safeswim's Holly Foreman and Martin Neale. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Robinson"It's not 'safe' or 'not safe', the only place you'll see the word 'safe' is in the name Safeswim ... we're just telling people it's low-risk today or it's high-risk today. We have no mandate to stop people swimming, we're giving people the best information we can and letting people make that choice."There's always a little bit of poop in the waterSafeswim collects samples of about 100ml of water from local beaches once a fortnight.Those samples are then tested for something called faecal indicator bacteria - the bacteria that comes from the faeces of warm-blooded animals like birds, dogs, cows, and yes, humans.The results of those samples can indicate whether water is low or high risk.Unfortunately, there's no such thing as 'no risk'."The bacteria is always there, generally in small concentrations," Neale says.How does poop get into the water anyway?Safeswim and other water quality programmes test for faecal indicator bacteria, largely because it's easier to test for than most other bugs and viruses."They're bacteria that we find in the stomachs and intestines of warm-blooded animals and there can be up to 15 million of these things per gram of faeces from an animal. They indicate the presence of fecal contamination in water, and they're chosen as indicators because they don't live very long in the environment."Animals do their business in various places, and when it rains, the faeces will often get washed off the land and straight into beaches, rivers and streams.Neale says the sources of contamination at beaches are different - that's why you'll see some beaches with more frequently poorer water quality than others."We know there are lots of places where birds gather for example."Big, natural flocks of birds do their business and it has an impact on water quality ... we have places where there's rural activities, in those types of places where streams are not fenced, the cows and sheep do their business and it flows downstream into a beach."In and around a lot of urban areas, we get runoff from concrete but we also do have known issues with the wastewater network in places. Obviously the human side of things is a little more complicated, we have wastewater networks, and perhaps not by design, but some are leaky to some degree."How are some beaches low risk one day, and high risk the next?The state of a beach will change over time due to two main reasons - discharge and dilution."If you get a discharge to a beach, over a couple of tidal cycles, there's a huge amount of clean ocean water coming in that dilutes the contamination to lower levels. We can see in open coast beaches where you get big tidal flashing, contamination can dilute and drop below guidelines for swimming quite quickly."Whereas some of the inner harbour areas where there's not so much flashing, sometimes the contamination can get stuck there for longer, and it requires more tidal cycles. That's one of the big ways that water quality changes over time - we might get a discharge to a beach that increases the concentration of bacteria in the water above a certain level, and then we get dilution through the tidal cycles that reduces that."How is it that neighbouring bays, sharing the same body of water, can have totally different water qualities?Even if two bays are right next to each other, only the beach with the discharge directed at it will be affected, Neale says."So if a beach has a big stormwater pipe discharging to it as many of them do, or a stream coming across the beach, we see that beach would be more susceptible to water quality impacts than, let's say, a beach with no discharges on it."Tāwharanui Regional Park - View of Anchor Bay from Flat Rock looking west. One of the cleanest beaches to swim in Auckland. Photo: Auckland Council websiteIs water self-cleaning?Luckily faecal indicator bacteria can only survive the warmth.That means the second they get into salt water, they die off pretty quickly."The bacteria live in anaerobic conditions so once they get out, they don't live for very long, maybe a few days. And in addition to the salt water action, another thing that is known to be impactful on bacteria is UV radiation."There's a fair bit of science around the world that says on sunny days, the water quality will tend to improve quicker if you've had a contamination. If it's sunny, you might see greater die off of bacteria because they're quite vulnerable to UV radiation."Can that little sample of water really help determine the risks?Sampling alone isn't enough to indicate water quality - it's just one element of a larger modelling and forecasting approach at Safeswim, Neale explains."Samples are not done every day, the reasons for that are two-fold. One, if we take a sample from a beach to test it, we don't get that result back for two days ... that means whenever we use monitoring results in that way, we're always telling people information that could potentially be out of date."The other thing is ... if you take one sample a week or fortnight, which is the norm for most monitoring programmes, you've got a one in seven chance of actually catching contamination if it occurs ... we do a lot of sampling and monitoring at all of the beaches, and what we use the sampling data for is to test and refine the predictive models."We'll take a small sample and compare what the model says at that point in time and see if it's correct, see how accurate our models are. Every sample we take gets tested for the fecal indicator bacteria, and if that result then comes back high or above the swimming guideline, we get a message from the lab quite quickly to say, 'This sample is high'."We can then look at it [and] investigate if it's an unusually high sample and the source, whether it's a human source or from dogs or birds or cows. The reason we want to know that is the management of the water quality problem will be different."Safeswim collects data around the cleanest and dirtiest beaches around the Auckland region.These were the ones to avoid, and the ones to dive into, according to the 2022/2023 rankings.The five dirtiest Auckland beaches1. Fosters Bay, Waitākere Ranges2. Green Bay, Whau3. Lynfield Cove, Whau4. Meola Reef, Albert-Eden5. Wood Bay, Waitākere RangesThe five cleanest Auckland beaches1. Tāwharanui, Rodney2. Anchor Bay, Rodney3. Devonport. Devonport-Takapuna4. Goat Island, Rodney5. Karekare Beach, Waitākere Ranges

Hibiscus Coast locals and Aucklanders alike can expect a significant shift in how transport decisions are made, following the Government’s announcement to restore democratic accountability to transport governance in Auckland. This reform aims to give elected representatives, and ultimately voters, greater control over policies that directly impact daily travel.Transport Minister Simeon Brown stated the changes come in response to growing frustration among Aucklanders over a perceived lack of responsiveness from Auckland Transport (AT). According to AT’s latest Annual Report, only 29% of Aucklanders feel their voices are heard and addressed.The reforms include several key measures to realign transport governance with public accountability:Regional Transport Policy and Planning: These functions will be returned to Auckland Council, mirroring the approach of other regional councils across New Zealand.Auckland Regional Transport Committee (ARTC): A new statutory body will develop a 30-year Integrated Transport Plan, ensuring long-term collaboration between local and central government.Road Controlling Authority Designation: Auckland Council will take over as the Road Controlling Authority, sharing decision-making power with Local Boards.Revised Transport Organisation Focus: Auckland Council will oversee a transport council-controlled organisation (CCO) dedicated solely to project delivery, with its structure finalised within six months of legislative approval.Minister Brown emphasised the importance of empowering elected representatives to approve vital plans such as the Regional Land Transport Plan and the Regional Public Transport Plan. “By returning decision-making power to elected representatives, we are enabling Aucklanders to directly influence transport policies,” he said.Local Boards will also see enhanced roles, managing community-specific matters like speed limits, parking, and pedestrian crossings.Mayor Wayne Brown welcomed the reforms, stating, “Aucklanders elected me to take back control of Auckland Transport, and I am fulfilling that promise. These changes restore local democracy to Auckland’s transport system.”The ARTC will play a pivotal role in developing a unified vision for the city’s future, addressing diverse needs across roads, rail, public transport, and freight for the next 30 years.“Long-term alignment between local and central government is critical to Auckland and New Zealand’s success,” said Minister Brown. The legislation formalising these changes marks a "fundamental reset" in Auckland's transport governance.

Football fans are eagerly anticipating this Saturday's men's A-League derby between Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix at Go Media Stadium.The match kicks off at 5:00 pm, with gates opening at 3:30 pm.With only a few seats remaining unsold, fans are urged to secure their tickets promptly.Ticket prices currently start from $425. A crowd of over 26,000 is expected to fill the stadium.The match promises to be an exciting encounter between two the top teams.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Hibiscus Coast locals and visitors to the Hauraki Gulf are urged to stay vigilant as Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) imposes a prohibited fire season across all gulf islands, including Kawau Island, effective from 2 December until further notice.The fire ban prohibits all open fires and suspends fire permits, reflecting concerns about the region’s heightened wildfire risk.FENZ’s Community Risk Manager for Counties Manukau, Thomas Harre, attributed the decision to the dry conditions developing after a period of exceptional vegetation growth.“We’ve had a relatively wet winter and warm spring, which has led to exceptional growth,” Harre said.“Now, with the temperature increasing, scrub and grasses will start drying out quickly. Combined with periods of extended dry and windy spells, there’s a high risk of wildfires occurring and spreading fast.”The risk is further compounded by an influx of visitors to the islands in December.Harre noted that past wildfires, caused by visitors lighting fires without awareness of the surroundings, have caused damage to both property and the environment.Adding to the challenge, the remote nature of the islands makes emergency responses more difficult.“The islands are only accessible by sea, and only some have airports. This can make responding to wildfires or evacuations delayed and difficult. We want to do everything we can to decrease the possibility of such wildfires appearing in the islands this summer,” Harre said.The prohibition covers all islands within the Hauraki Gulf, including Kawau Island and others in the Waitematā District.Residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to check fire restrictions at www.checkitsalright.nz before lighting any fires this summer.Fire and Emergency New Zealand is counting on community compliance to prevent wildfires and protect the region’s property and natural environment during the high-risk season.

Tenancy Services in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has launched an online service to simplify how landlords and tenants manage rental bonds. This new digital service is designed to make the process quicker, more transparent, and easier to navigate.Kat Watson, Head of Tenancy Services, explained that Tenancy Services currently holds around $900 million in the Residential Tenancies Trust Account. She said, “We are proud to be guardians of New Zealand’s bond service, and excited to be launching a modernised, digital service to make it quicker and easier for tenants and landlords to manage bonds.”The first phase of the online service enables both online bond lodgements and bond top-ups. Landlords and tenants can now use online forms to lodge bonds, allowing for increased visibility throughout the process. Property management companies can also connect directly with Tenancy Services via an online business-to-business software application (API), speeding up the bond lodgement process for larger companies.“The ‘digital first’ online approach for bond lodgement is part of a wider modernisation project,” Watson noted. “It’s led by MBIE and supported by Government and housing agencies across New Zealand. The new online service is a refreshing and welcome change from the clunky and heavily manual process with paper-based bond lodgement forms.”This shift to a digital system is expected to improve customer experience and offer greater efficiency as more services are rolled out. A second phase is planned for early 2025, with additional features to be added throughout the year. These upgrades will allow customers to complete more bond management transactions online.For tenants and landlords, this marks a significant step forward in managing rental bonds, and the continuous improvements will enhance the overall process as new services become available.

Locals are set to benefit from an expanded range of medicines, thanks to a significant funding increase for Pharmac, New Zealand's medicine funding agency. Associate Health Minister David Seymour highlighted the progress made possible by the Government's record-breaking $6.294 billion Pharmac budget, allocated over four years.When the current Government assumed office, Pharmac faced a $1.7 billion funding shortfall, limiting its capacity to increase access to essential treatments. Mr Seymour explained that addressing this funding gap became a priority, enabling Pharmac to negotiate better deals and increase the availability of life-saving medicines.As of December 2nd, the funding uplift is bringing tangible results.Lenvatinib, used for treating thyroid, liver, and kidney cancers, is now accessible to an estimated 112 patients. Additionally, empagliflozin, a medication for chronic heart failure, will support around 18,000 patients, with this figure expected to rise to 33,000 annually after five years.Pharmac has also funded low-sensitivity urine test kits, allowing approximately 9,300 women to confirm the effectiveness of abortions at home, avoiding the need for blood tests. For individuals with ADHD, Lisdexamfetamine is now available as a new once-daily treatment option, easing pressure on the supply of other ADHD medications.Earlier this year, Mr Seymour called for Pharmac to strengthen its processes for involving patients, carers, and families in medicine funding decisions. “We want to build a world-class health system, and that requires access to world-class medicines,” he stated.Pharmac operates independently, setting its priorities within the Government's allocated budget. Further details on the newly funded medicines can be found on Pharmac’s website.

Deaths by drowning are on track to be the lowest since 2018, but advocates are still urging people to stay vigilant around the water.Water Safety New Zealand numbers show there have been 61 drownings so far in 2024.That is 17 fewer than last year, and 22 fewer than the 10-year average.Chief executive Daniel Gerrard said the reduction was something to celebrate, but the numbers were expected to increase before the year is over."It is down 26 percent year to date, based on the 10 year average, but the predictive modelling is still saying there's likely to be 70 fatalities in total for the year. So we're still looking at potentially a fatality, one every three days [until the end of the year]."Gerrard said people needed to remain vigilant and keep safety at front of mind when heading out to beaches and rivers this summer.The drop in drowning deaths shows the impact of good messaging and education, he said, leading to actions like keeping small kids close and choosing safe places to swim."If you're not a particularly good swimmer, going for a swimmer at Piha beach is perhaps the not the best choice. And it's things like that we're starting to see more and more."Gerrard said the efforts put into education and water skills training for children had also made a difference, with drownings in under 24 year olds at record lows."We're giving more education opportunities to our little people, so little New Zealanders have more skills and knowledge than they ever have," he said."We've been spending - and I'm talking about the entire water safety community - has really been focusing on providing skills and knowledge to young New Zealanders. What that's now translating to is those primary school aged kids are much safer, and the numbers are representing that."The drowning statistics still show the same trouble areas, however, with men making up the majority of drownings, and many happening at un-patrolled beaches, or involving alcohol."This is a male problem in New Zealand - 85 percent of the fatalities are male. It's still around going to the beach and getting in trouble in some of those environments - and often they are un-patrolled beaches."He encouraged New Zealanders to make smarter swimming decisions this summer, like going to a patrolled beach, and said people should stay out of the water if they were not sure it was safe.

Hibiscus Coast residents with an interest in technology and education may be intrigued by a new study from the University of Auckland.Researchers are investigating the role of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots in enhancing learning experiences for university students.The study explores how these digital assistants can provide personalised guidance while helping teachers manage workloads.The research team, led by Shahper Richter, Guy Bate, Shohil Kishore, Inna Piven, and Patrick Dodd, has developed two AI chatbots—John and Jack—designed with distinct interaction styles.John takes on a warm and supportive role, offering empathetic feedback and encouragement. In contrast, Jack adopts a formal, efficient approach, delivering concise and precise responses.Feedback from students revealed varied preferences.Those from engineering disciplines often favoured Jack’s professional style, appreciating his ability to highlight areas for improvement clearly.One engineering student remarked:"Jack felt like someone I could take more seriously. He also pointed out a few additional things that John hadn’t when asked the same question."Other students preferred John’s friendly, approachable tone, particularly when tackling challenging subjects. One participant noted:"John’s encouraging feedback made me feel more comfortable exploring difficult topics."The study also highlighted some challenges.Students reported that both chatbots occasionally gave generic answers that lacked depth.Others raised concerns about the potential for over-reliance on AI, which could hinder critical thinking skills.Privacy and data security also emerged as significant issues, with students expressing unease about how their interactions were stored and used.To address these challenges, researchers propose customisable chatbot personas that cater to diverse learning styles.They stress that AI tools should complement, not replace, human educators.Enhancements in context understanding and more robust privacy policies are also recommended to improve the effectiveness and ethical use of AI in classrooms.The research team plans to expand their study to include a broader range of students and courses, aiming to refine AI tools further.By tailoring chatbots to meet varied needs and ensuring ethical implementation, universities hope to create a balanced partnership between human teachers and AI, fostering more effective and personalised learning experiences.

As the holiday season arrives, the Hibiscus Coast is alive with the spirit of Christmas, and local businesses are leading the charge in spreading cheer throughout the community.From heartwarming messages to festive events, this time of year brings a sense of togetherness and joy to the region.One of the most memorable moments so far was the Orewa Santa Parade, where the community gathered to celebrate the season.This year, it was Harold the Giraffe who stole the show, much to the delight of spectators.While Santa may have been outshone this time, he’ll have his turn at Christmas!Local business owner Jürgen Kolb from Hibiscus JetSki Hire was thrilled by the parade’s festive atmosphere, marking the beginning of a season filled with celebration and local pride.Several businesses have shared heartfelt holiday greetings, expressing gratitude for the support they’ve received throughout the year.Acorn Stairlifts New Zealand extended their warm wishes to the community, wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season, with the promise of continued support in 2025.Cato Bolam also took a moment to thank their customers for their support in 2024, looking forward to working together again in the New Year.Just Bliss Beauty joined in the festive cheer, sending their clients best wishes for a joyful and safe Christmas.Happy Hearts ELC in Red Beach shared their gratitude with parents and caregivers across the Hibiscus Coast, saying, "We so appreciate your support of our family-owned centre and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year."The team at Whangaparaoa Dental Centre expressed their heartfelt appreciation to the community, sending Merry Christmas wishes and a promise to brighten even more smiles in the year ahead.Additionally, we would like to send our best wishes to Michelle McAteer-Ross from Barfoot & Thompson for a speedy recovery, along with warm holiday greetings for a joyful and restful Christmas season.As we enter the bustling Christmas period, it’s a wonderful time to reflect on the importance of supporting local businesses.The Hibiscus Coast App is a fantastic resource for staying connected with businesses in the area, keeping the community informed of festive events, special offers, and more.Let’s continue to support one another this Christmas and beyond.Stay connected with the community this holiday season by checking the Hibiscus Coast App for the latest updates and events.Plus, discover how we can Supercharge Your Visibility! Our strategic local ads drive traffic to your business, ensuring you stand out and reach more customers.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

The Hibiscus Coast App has unveiled its new Go-To Coast Expert section, providing locals with direct access to expert advice across a variety of fields.The section, which launched today, is designed to connect the community with professionals specialising in money, law, accounting, insurance, property, and health and wellbeing.The initiative allows local experts to showcase their skills and insights while positioning themselves as leaders in their respective industries.By offering clear and reliable information, these professionals aim to support locals in making well-informed decisions about their everyday challenges and opportunities.Experts featured in the section are defined as individuals with deep knowledge and significant experience in their fields, gained through education, training, and practical application.Recognised for their problem-solving capabilities and ongoing commitment to learning, they are equipped to deliver advice that exceeds the capabilities of a lay person.This concept has already seen success on similar hyper-local apps across the country, where it has helped professionals establish themselves as trusted voices in their communities.The addition of this section to the Hibiscus Coast App is expected to further strengthen connections between locals and the skilled professionals they rely on.The launch underscores the app’s dedication to supporting local businesses and residents by creating opportunities for meaningful engagement and accessible expertise.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Consumer confidence highest since 2021Pessimists and optimists almost level peggingFalling interest rates and slower inflation offset employment fearsBut still not a good time to buy big ticket itemConsumer confidence has hit its best level in three years as the number of pessimists and optimists almost matched.The ANZ-Roy Morgan survey showed a nine-point rise in November to 99.8, fractionally pessimistic.However, the latest survey showed fewer consumers reported being worse off financially than a year ago, and more were upbeat about their current and future outlook.ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner said conditions were looking up."Both firms and households are reporting in aggregate that things are already a little bit less bad here and now."Potential drivers include interest rate relief, a turn higher in the housing market, and easing inflation - though households are going to take some convincing on that front, with inflation expectations at 4 percent."A net 12 percent of respondents said they were worse off financially than a year ago, a drop of 10 points from October, with a net 22 percent expecting to better off next year, an eight-point rise.Pessimism about the near term economic outlook fell, and optimism about longer term prospects improved.Respondents remained less inclined to buy a big ticket item.Zollner said Wellington was the most pessimistic region in the survey as public sector job losses weighed, and also had lower expectations of rises in house prices."It's still very tough out there for many ... but the dial is starting to shift."

In its first week, New Zealand's new Red Tape tipline has already received over 300 submissions, as frustrated locals raise concerns about unnecessary regulations.Regulation Minister David Seymour welcomed the response, saying it highlights a widespread dissatisfaction with bureaucratic barriers across various sectors.“Red tape wastes time, money, and energy. It’s clear that people are fed up with the delays and complications caused by excessive regulation,” said Seymour.The majority of reports so far have come from the building and construction sector, with many workers citing difficulties with slow or convoluted consenting processes.Minister of Regulation, David SeymourTraffic management has also been a significant source of complaints, with reports describing the widespread use of road cones as contributing to frustrating detours and delays.The Ministry for Regulation’s review team is currently triaging the reports, prioritising them for further investigation.Seymour explained that the feedback will not only help identify regulations that need to be removed, but will also inform future reviews of existing legislation.“Some issues are more complex than others, and addressing them will take time,” he added.“But the goal is to restore New Zealand’s ‘can do’ attitude and make it easier for people to work, save, and invest.”The tipline will continue to accept submissions, as Seymour urges more locals to report their red tape issues.He emphasised that the goal is to create a more streamlined regulatory environment that supports productivity and reduces unnecessary obstacles.For those who wish to report their own red tape challenges, the tipline is open for further submissions.

Locals will be pleased to learn about new government initiatives designed to provide additional support for students struggling with reading and maths.The expanded programmes aim to help more children achieve their academic potential across the country, including those in the Hibiscus Coast.Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the expansion, emphasising the importance of early intervention for young learners.“We are relentlessly focused on giving more Kiwi kids confidence at school so they can achieve their potential. Due to high demand, we’re expanding literacy and maths intervention support so more students who need help, get it,” she said.Education Minister Erica Stanford.Earlier this year, $33 million was redirected from Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Support to structured literacy approaches, benefiting 770 schools nationwide.Beginning in Term 1 next year, an additional 200 schools will gain access to a trained structured literacy teacher to assist Years 0-2 students requiring extra support.The Government has reprioritised $5 million to ensure the programme meets growing demand.In addition, the Government is expanding a targeted maths acceleration trial for Year 7 and 8 students.The 12-week programme, which includes small group tutoring and supervised online tuition sessions, will now assist 3000 students—an increase of 1000 from its original scope.Students will receive up to four 30-minute sessions per week during Terms 1 and 2 in 2025, helping them reach curriculum benchmarks in maths.“These measures ensure schools are well-equipped to deliver structured literacy and maths in the years ahead,” said Ms Stanford.The Government has also committed to raising the percentage of Year 8 students achieving curriculum expectations in reading, writing, and maths to 80 per cent by 2030.With the expansion, the structured literacy initiative will now benefit 970 schools nationwide, while the increased maths trial will cost an additional $3 million.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

A Treasury report puts the cost of the preferred option for a second Waitematā Harbour crossing at between $23 and $27 billion.The Transport Agency and Auckland authorities had been looking at, and bickering over, what to do about relieving pressure on the Harbour Bridge for years.A business case was completed several months ago, and it's current recommended option included both a tunnel and second bridge, according to a newly released Treasury investment report.It also encompassed upgrades to the Northern Busway, Harbour Bridge and State Highway One."The total cost of Stage 1 capex [capital expense] is $22.9- 27.2 billion," it said.The government rejected a plan hatched under it's predecessor costed at over $50 billion."To ensure that the project achieves value for money, I have directed NZTA to refine the scope of the crossing and develop a more detailed understanding of the costs, risks, trade-offs, and assumptions for the tunnel and an equivalent bridge option, prior to seeking a decision from ministers on which option to progress," Transport Minister Simeon Brown told RNZ in a statement on Wednesday.Auckland mayor Wayne Brown said a second bridge will be "hugely cheaper, massively cheaper." Photo: RNZ / Marika KhabaziAuckland's mayor Wayne Brown recently urged the government to abandon the tunnel option completely. A second bridge was "hugely cheaper, massively cheaper", he said.The new investigations would take 12-18 months, NZTA Waka Kotahi said, which would include sounding out potential partners on what they prefer, and taking "market sounding to understand market appetite for options".It had yet to do a geotechnical study either - Brown said this might start as soon as the next few weeks.The agenda must also update consenting pathways and protect the route, and look into funding and contract options, Brown said.All major highways must now consider charging tolls. Public-private partnerships - PPPs - were also much more on the table.A detailed business case may begin next year, with the construction itself from 2029-40, the Treasury report said.So far, at least $36m had been spent on the preliminary business case, three quarters of that on consultants.

Locals will be encouraged by new figures showing a significant drop in the number of households relying on emergency housing motels. Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka announced the milestone, highlighting the Government’s ongoing focus on reducing reliance on temporary housing solutions.As of October 2024, the number of households in emergency housing motels has fallen to 993, marking a 68 percent reduction compared to December last year when the total stood at 3,141. This reduction has also led to a sharp decline in spending, with October 2024’s figure of $10.76 million nearly a third of the $31.6 million spent in October 2023.“The total number of households living in emergency housing motels has been reduced by 68 percent under our Government,” Mr Potaka said. “National campaigned on a promise to deliver real change for people stuck in emergency housing, and we are delivering on that promise.”Much of the progress is attributed to the Priority One policy introduced in April 2024. This initiative prioritises families with children who have been in emergency housing for over 12 weeks, fast-tracking them into social housing. So far, 786 households, including 1,608 children, have benefited from the policy.To further address emergency housing needs, the Government is trialling a social outcomes contracting approach.This two-year trial, in partnership with Emerge Aotearoa and the Wellington City Mission, will support up to 100 single people and couples without children who have been in emergency housing for over 12 months. Eligible households, not already registered for other housing support, will be offered tailored assistance.The trial will operate in Wellington and Hamilton, regions with high numbers of emergency housing cases. As of October, 198 households were in emergency housing in Waikato, and 180 in Wellington.The Government has also set a long-term goal of reducing emergency housing reliance by 75 percent by 2030.

Your Weekly News Fix.Catch up on the top local stories that made headlines this week!Top Stories You Need to Know...Dynamic Lane Reduces Whangaparāoa CongestionRead moreHibiscus Coast Census Highlights GrowthRead more Fatal Crash in Waitoki Claims Two LivesRead moreTransforming Okoromai BayRead moreNew Business Listings Now Live on the Hibiscus Coast App!Read more Stay Ahead of the Curve.Get the latest local news and information through the Hibiscus Coast App. Download the app now!Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Auckland Transport (AT) is making strides in keeping its promise to improve road conditions for Aucklanders. In the five weeks since the agency announced its commitment to swift pothole repairs, 785 potholes have been filled, with 95% completed within targeted response times.Councillor Andy Baker, Chair of Auckland Council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee, praised the efforts. “I’m really proud of AT and the team of contractors who have stepped up to deliver on AT’s promise to ensure potholes are fixed quickly and improve levels of service for road users,” he said.The pledge includes a 24-hour repair timeframe for potholes on Auckland’s arterial and regional road networks, which span 1,400 km of sealed roads carrying more than 10,000 vehicles daily. On other sealed roads, the goal is to complete repairs within five working days.Alan Wallace, AT’s Group Manager for Road Asset Maintenance and Renewals, highlighted the positive response from the public. “Our contractors have done a great job and demonstrated their commitment to maintaining the network as best we can,” Wallace said.Over half of the repairs in the past five weeks occurred in Franklin, Waitakere, and Albany. These areas are also slated for extensive upgrades under AT’s Summer Road Reno programme, which aims to reseal or rehabilitate more than 410 km of sealed roads during the 2024/25 year. This figure represents an increase in road renewal activity, supported by additional funding from the NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Council.Looking ahead, the plan includes strengthening 30 km of unsealed roads and progressively increasing the renewal rate in coming years. With 40% of the programme already completed this year, AT is on track to improve road conditions across the region.

A security breach at Auckland Airport caused disruption for travellers as all passengers had to be re-screened.Flights were also delayed or cancelled as a result.There have been reports of large queues at the domestic departures.An Auckland Airport spokesperson said there was a security breach this morning.It had now been resolved."Aviation Security Services is requiring all passengers to be re-screened and that process is underway now," the spokesperson said."We thank travellers for their patience and they should please check with their airline about any impact to their flight."Air New Zealand said it had to cancel four flights as a result of the security breach.Several other flights were delayed."The team are working to re-accommodate any impacted customers and we thank them for their patience while we work to get them to their destination as quickly as possible," the airline said in a statement.Earlier this month there were lengthy queues at Auckland Airport's domestic terminal caused by upgrades to a security machine.