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."

Coasties will soon notice a temporary pause in their children's school routines as local schools on the Hibiscus Coast prepare for an important teacher-only day. The upcoming date, which varies between Monday 21 October and Friday 15 November 2024, will see schools take time to focus on implementing new changes to the national curriculum. This initiative aims to ensure that teachers have adequate time to plan and adapt, helping students excel in reading, writing, and maths.These teacher-only days were allocated across the country to give schools flexibility in preparing for the reforms. Two of the designated days took place in 2023, with the final two scheduled for 2024. The changes aim to provide students with the skills they need for academic success and beyond, aligning with the Ministry of Education’s commitment to delivering a world-class education system.Parents are encouraged to check with their child’s school to confirm the specific date of the teacher-only day. These closures will allow educators to collaborate, plan, and adjust their strategies to meet the new curriculum standards.

Locals and visitors to the Hibiscus Coast can look forward to a new attraction this summer as Kiwi Slip ‘n Slide prepares to launch New Zealand’s largest outdoor water slide in Silverdale.In partnership with Snowplanet, the slip ‘n slide promises fun in the sun alongside the country's only indoor snow resort.The massive four-lane, 110-metre-long slip ‘n slide will be located at 91 Small Road, right next to Snowplanet.The collaboration allows Kiwi Slip ‘n Slide customers to enjoy Snowplanet's on-site facilities, including a restaurant and bar, making it a convenient spot for both summer and winter activities.Mana Water Sports Owner and Director Emily Rutherford shared her excitement about the new venture.“Snowplanet has been a key destination for snow sports since 2005, and we’re thrilled to bring our giant slip ‘n slide to this iconic location,” she said.Rutherford also highlighted additional attractions, including New Zealand’s largest sealed-air inflatable water castle for younger visitors and a variety of food trucks, aiming to create a festive summer atmosphere.Kiwi Slip ‘n Slide is set to open on November 16, initially operating on weekends and for private bookings on weekdays.Full-time operations will begin on December 10 to coincide with the summer holiday season and will run into 2025.Snowplanet General Manager Rojie Aguilar expressed excitement about the collaboration, saying, "We are thrilled to offer this fun and exciting activity, which promises enjoyable experiences for everyone."

Following Team New Zealand’s impressive victory in Barcelona over the weekend, the prospect of hosting the next America’s Cup in Auckland has stirred excitement among locals. However, financial concerns may prevent the event from returning to the City of Sails.Aucklanders are hopeful for a repeat of the Cup’s earlier success on home waters, but a lack of public funds could stall those hopes. According to Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Sam Warren, a full cost-benefit analysis must be conducted before any public money is spent.“Auckland’s finances are strained, and the country is facing similar issues,” Warren said. “We have roads, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure that need attention. If the America’s Cup is to return, it must first prove real economic value.”While Team New Zealand has managed to fund much of its efforts through private investors, the cost of preparing Auckland to host the next event is substantial. With a limited timeline before the next Cup series, hosting the race in New Zealand is far from guaranteed. Warren added, “Spain or the Middle East might be more realistic venues at this stage.”Locals remain divided, with some eager to welcome the Cup back to Auckland Harbour, while others are wary of the financial strain it could impose. For now, Team New Zealand is keeping its options open as discussions continue.

The Armageddon Expo, one of New Zealand's largest pop culture events, is returning this Labour Weekend to Auckland Showgrounds. Running from Friday, 25 October to Monday, 28 October, the Expo promises four action-packed days for Coasties and locals who love everything from gaming to anime, comics, and sci-fi.Organisers are calling this year’s event the most exciting in recent years, with a host of celebrity appearances and activities on offer. Jason Momoa, the star of Aquaman and Game of Thrones, headlines a lineup of international actors, including Danielle Panabaker from The Flash and Brenton Thwaites from Titans.Founder William Geradts expressed his excitement, stating, "This is going to be the largest event we’ve had for some time. We know fans will be out in force to attend the show, meet the stars, and celebrate with others who share their passion."The Armageddon Expo began in 1995 and has since grown into New Zealand’s biggest pop culture celebration, with Auckland being the largest of its multiple events. Tens of thousands of fans attend each year, enjoying celebrity panels, gaming tournaments, cosplay competitions, and a massive array of merchandise stalls.In addition to the celebrity lineup, fans can experience the debut of new games, including the much-anticipated Sonic X Shadow Power. Whether meeting stars, joining a panel, or competing in cosplay, this year’s event promises something for every attendee.

Locals across the Hibiscus Coast may want to take note of the latest SEEK NZ Employment Report for September, which reveals a modest 1% drop in job ads for Auckland, reflecting a broader national trend of slight declines.Despite this dip, the report offers a mixed picture, with some regions experiencing growth while others, like Auckland, saw only marginal changes.Nationally, job ads fell slightly, and for the first time in a year, applications per job ad also dropped by 2%.Auckland’s decline mirrors a nationwide cooling, where larger regions, including Wellington and Bay of Plenty, also recorded similar 1% decreases in job ads.On the industry front, Auckland saw varied performance.The Construction sector faced one of the more significant declines, dropping by 8% nationwide, which may have contributed to the city’s overall dip.In contrast, Professional Services grew, with Insurance & Superannuation showing a notable 27% rise, and Legal up by 11%, indicating that opportunities remain strong in these fields.Canterbury stood out as the only major region to record a rise in job ads, climbing by 6%.Smaller regions, such as Gisborne, experienced a 14% jump, while the West Coast saw a 12% drop, underscoring the fluctuations typical of less populous areas.The SEEK Employment Report provides valuable insights helping locals understand how the job market is evolving and what sectors may offer better opportunities moving forward.

Milldale’s long-awaited SH1 crossing is on track for a new milestone, with developers confirming that significant progress has been made in key areas.The motorway corridor works are now fully complete, and the development team expects to vacate the area by the end of October. In addition, the eastern approach to Milldale is finished, along with motorway barriers and landscaping, marking significant strides in the project.With 80% of the bridge barriers already installed, attention will now turn to the Milldale approach from John Fair Drive. The remaining works are expected to be nearly complete by Christmas, pending final council approval. The opening of the bridge is planned for early next year, promising improved accessibility for locals and commuters alike.

Some Auckland property owners are considering renting out their homes when they move overseas and it's contributing to the slowdown of the rental market.New migration data shows in the year ended August there was a record net loss of 56,100 New Zealand citizens, with just over half headed to Australia.Migration gains also fell to the lowest level since early 2023.Barfoot and Thompson general manager Samantha Arnold said the data is being reflected in housing in the Auckland region.She said there is a lot more stock than there are tenants."We're seeing owners move overseas wanting to rent their properties out, but we've also got tenants moving overseas as well so there's a slight over supply."It's not a huge boost but it's definitely noticeable and when you talk to people on the ground they're nodding their head and saying yes we're seeing it. It may be like a handful in a region but there's definitely a movement towards that."New Barfoot and Thompson data shows the average rent in Auckland was 4.8 percent higher than a year ago - the first drop below 5 percent all year.Arnold said annual rent increases for the region typically sit between 5 and 8 percent.She said homeowners are also waiting to see what happens with interest rates before they put their houses on the rental market, which means both owners and tenants are moving less adding to rents easing.

Auckland FC has made a winning start in their debut Isuzu UTE A-League campaign, marking a proud moment for local football fans. Yesterday at Go Media Stadium, the team secured a 2-0 victory over Brisbane Roar in their home opener, thrilling the crowd with a strong performance on the field.The match saw an unfortunate own goal by Brisbane’s Harry Van Der Saag in the 8th minute, giving Auckland FC an early advantage. Logan Rogerson extended the lead in the 74th minute, netting a second goal that sealed the win for the home side.This victory is a significant milestone for Auckland FC as they become the newest Kiwi team to join the prestigious A-League.The club’s first-ever win sets a positive tone for their upcoming matches, with many eager to see how the team will fare against more established sides.The next match will see Auckland FC face off against Sydney FC at Go Media Stadium next Sunday, October 27, with another strong showing anticipated by both players and fans alike.

Locals on the Hibiscus Coast and across New Zealand are celebrating after Emirates Team New Zealand clinched the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, defeating Challenger INEOS Britannia with a 7-2 victory.The win, which took place in Barcelona, marks a historic achievement, as New Zealand became the first team to win the America’s Cup three times in a row in modern history.The America’s Cup, which began in 1851, is the oldest international sporting competition and is known for its fierce rivalries and cutting-edge technology.This year’s competition was no exception, as both teams employed the latest advancements in yacht design and sailing techniques.

A local Lotto player will be celebrating tonight after winning $1 million in the Lotto First Division during last nights draw. The winning ticket was purchased on MyLotto, marking a moment of excitement for the fortunate player.While the Lotto First Division saw a winner, the Powerball jackpot remains up for grabs. It rolled over this evening, and the prize will reach a staggering $30 million by Wednesday night. Additionally, Strike Four has also rolled over, with a total of $500,000 expected for the next draw.Lotto NZ encourages everyone who bought their tickets on MyLotto to check their numbers as soon as possible through the MyLotto platform or app. Lotto NZ operates with a commitment to return 100% of its profits to Kiwi communities through lottery grant programmes overseen by Te Puna Tahua NZ Lottery Grants Board. These grants support various initiatives and projects that benefit locals across New Zealand.

In our vibrant Hibiscus Coast community, locals are urged to pay closer attention to their salt intake, particularly when it comes to fast food.A recent study conducted by the University of Auckland, reveals that Kiwis are consuming an alarming average of 3,000mg of sodium each day—well above the World Health Organisation's recommended maximum of 2,000mg.Currently, many takeaway outlets do not disclose essential sodium content information.While New Zealand’s Food Standards Code mandates nutritional details for packaged foods, fast food chains are not required to comply.Associate Professor Helen Eyles from the School of Population Health emphasises the health implications, stating, "A single serve of a burger or takeout sandwich with fries can easily provide more than the recommended daily upper limit for sodium."In 2020, Kiwis spent approximately 29 percent of their weekly food budget on restaurant meals and takeaways.Alarmingly, among 28 major fast-food chains analysed, ten did not provide any sodium information, and only a third of 5,246 products assessed offered sodium data.Excessive sodium intake is a major contributor to heart disease, leading to high blood pressure, which can result in life-threatening conditions such as stroke and heart attacks—significant causes of preventable deaths in New Zealand.In a bid to address this issue, New Zealand has committed to reducing mean population sodium intake by 30 percent by 2025, as part of the WHO Global Action Plan for reducing non-communicable diseases.However, experts caution that without a comprehensive national sodium-reduction strategy, this goal may remain out of reach.Eyles and her colleague Shona Gomes highlight the importance of a multifaceted approach, combining public awareness campaigns with improved food labelling and monitoring of food environments.They advocate for establishing benchmarks for both fast and packaged foods, akin to successful strategies seen in other countries.“First of all, in New Zealand, we need to make it visible how much salt is in our fast foods,” Eyles urges.“We really need a national sodium reduction strategy implemented by the government, which includes collaborating with fast food manufacturers to lower salt levels in their offerings.”As we enjoy the conveniences of fast food, it’s crucial to stay informed about the nutritional content of our meals.

As Coasties, we're no strangers to the devastating impact of natural hazards.To address these concerns, Auckland Council is strengthening the Auckland Unitary Plan, and they want your input.Over the next few months, the council will engage with Aucklanders through a deliberative democracy process.This collaborative approach aims to better understand how to mitigate the risks of flooding, erosion, and landslides."The deliberative democracy process allows us to gain valuable insights from Aucklanders on complex subjects," says Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Policy and Planning Committee."We're capturing views at different stages, rather than just through submissions."Phill Reid, Manager Aucklandwide Planning, explains that participants will explore updating the Unitary Plan to address natural hazard risks."We need to understand the level of risk Aucklanders find tolerable or intolerable. This will inform new rules or restrictions to strengthen our planning."Key aspects of the plan change include:Assessing risks from natural hazardsIdentifying areas prone to flooding, erosion, and landslidesDeveloping strategies to mitigate these risksAucklanders can express interest in participating in future deliberative democracy processes by contacting the council here.As the council moves forward, Coasties will be interested to see how these changes might impact our community.

Grocery co-op Foodstuffs is defending grocery price differences between here and OECD countries, pointing out New Zealand's 15 percent goods and services tax (GST).While Stats NZ's food price index rose an annual 1.2 percent last month, Foodstuff said its co-ops - New World, Pak'nSave and Four Square stores - recorded no increase for their comparable basket of goods."As two external reports highlighted recently, global factors play a big role in New Zealand food prices," Foodstuffs managing director Chris Quin said."What others who compare prices here with those overseas tend to overlook, is most OECD countries have lower or no GST on some or all grocery foods.""For example, Australia doesn't charge GST on meat, fish, produce, cheese and eggs, plain milk and cream, bread and spreads, bottled water, tea and coffee, cooking ingredients and oils, or infant formula."Likewise, in the UK and Ireland they don't have GST on most grocery foods."He said the inclusion of GST in prices made a difference at the checkout."Had the GST exemptions in those three countries been applied to New Zealand in a recent study by Australian researchers, who compared a basket of over 40 products at each country's two main supermarket brands, the total price of the Pak'nSave basket would have been lower than Australia's and lower than Ireland's, and less than 10 percent more than the UK's."He said it was important to consider all costs when making comparisons."To be clear, this is not a call to remove GST from food in New Zealand, as we think our simple low-cost tax system makes sense," Quin said. "But it is important to be conscious of all factors at play when comparing prices here to overseas."He said about 13 cents per dollar spent at co-ops was GST, less than four cents per dollar was net profit after tax, and about two-thirds was the cost of buying the product from suppliers, which rose an annual 3 percent on average in September.He said Foodstuffs will keep tabs on prices charged in comparable overseas markets overseas over the coming months."Because any valid comparison needs a robust methodology that carefully considers the basket of goods included, their weights and unit measures, different sales taxes and fluctuating exchange rates, and should be conducted over an extended period."At the same time, our co-ops will continue to challenge ourselves to do what we can as two regional New Zealand businesses to find greater efficiencies, which was the major driver behind our proposed merger, and one of the best things we can do to provide our customers with savings at the checkout."The Commerce Commission recently pushed back on the proposed Foodstuffs merger of the north and south co-operatives, deciding it would have harmed competition and was irrelevant whether it would have made the operator more efficient.

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!Man Arrested After Northern Motorway CrashRead moreAucklanders Embrace $50 Public Transport CapRead moreCoast Highway Lane Closure for RepairsRead moreLocal Medical Fees Vary for Coasties' HealthcareRead moreOvernight Closure on SH1 Silverdale-WarkworthRead 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!

With the Hibiscus Coast being a popular destination for retirees and home to numerous retirement villages, locals may take special interest in the Government’s ongoing review of the Retirement Villages Act 2003. This review, which follows feedback from over 11,000 public submissions last year, aims to address pressing issues within the retirement village sector.Associate Minister of Housing Tama Potaka, alongside Seniors Minister Casey Costello, confirmed the progress, saying the review will concentrate on essential areas identified by the public. “It’s clear based on the over 11,000 public submissions received in 2023 during consultation that there are some areas with high levels of agreement,” Mr. Potaka said.Among the top priorities for the review are bringing the Act up-to-date with best practices within the retirement sector, increasing transparency, and enhancing protections for residents. Specific changes under consideration include a plain-language version of the Code of Practice and potential restrictions on passing insurance excesses to residents when they are not at fault.Further, Mr. Potaka outlined three key areas the review will prioritise: “Maintenance and repairs of operator-owned chattels and fixtures, managing complaints and disputes, and options for incentivising or requiring earlier capital repayments when residents move out of a village.”Associate Minister of Housing Tama PotakaThe overarching goal remains to ensure consumer protection while balancing the rights and responsibilities of both residents and operators, he added. This approach aims to address concerns from residents and their families while preserving the sector’s viability.Seniors Minister Casey Costello emphasised the importance of retirement villages in New Zealand’s housing landscape, particularly as the population ages. “New Zealand’s population is ageing and it’s essential we have a range of housing options available for older people,” she said. “Retirement villages play an important role in this mix, and around two-thirds of them also provide aged care facilities.”Currently, about 53,000 people live in retirement villages across New Zealand, and that number is expected to double to around 113,000 by 2048, according to industry estimates. This anticipated growth highlights the urgency of the review, as demand for retirement accommodation will likely increase in the coming decades.Next year, Mr. Potaka expects to receive further briefings and discuss the possible changes before presenting them to Cabinet. A legislative amendment could be introduced as early as 2026, with the goal of enacting changes in the next Parliamentary term.