New Zealand's readiness to tackle climate change receives a boost, with a concerted effort from the government aimed at fortifying resilience amidst economic recovery, according to Climate Change Minister Simon Watts."An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate continues to change," Mr Watts asserts.A Notice of Motion has been initiated to prompt the Finance and Expenditure Committee to delve into climate adaptation, gaining support from political factions across the legislative spectrum."Here in New Zealand, we are feeling the impacts of climate change and we are seeing more frequent and severe damaging natural events such as flooding, storms and landslips," Mr Watts acknowledges.Emphasising the financial toll of natural disasters, he underscores the necessity to fortify against losses and ensure the nation's vital assets — communities, jobs, industries, and residences — are primed to endure the ramifications of climate change.Empowering the Finance and Expenditure Committee, the Notice of Motion instigates an inquiry into climate adaptation, aimed at devising guiding objectives and principles for a bespoke climate adaptation framework for New Zealand."The adaptation framework will set out the Government’s approach to sharing the costs of preparing New Zealand for the impacts of climate change," explains Mr Watts. "It will help communities and businesses understand what investment is planned in their area, for example whether the council will build flood protection infrastructure, and what support will be available to help with recovery from events like slips or floods. It will also seek to improve the way we share information, so everyone can make informed decisions about how they manage risks."With an eye on efficacy, the framework aims to streamline decision-making both pre and post severe weather events, ensuring a more proactive rather than reactive stance towards climate challenges."To find solutions which will be long-lasting, we need broad agreement. That’s why I am delighted to have support from across the House for this Motion, and a commitment to work together on this issue," Mr Watts affirms.Drawing from approximately 150 public submissions made to the Environment Committee's prior inquiry into climate adaptation, the new inquiry promises thorough consideration of diverse perspectives.Anticipating further public input, the Finance and Expenditure Committee is poised to solicit additional submissions as part of its investigative process.Any necessary legislation to bolster the framework is slated for introduction in early 2025, aligning with the government's proactive stance towards climate change mitigation and adaptation.

An "extreme" geomagnetic storm is affecting Earth at present.Material fired out from a sun spot, is crashing into the planet's atmosphere this weekend .Transpower says it has put the electricity grid into a 'more' resilient state to protect equipment.A spokesperson says today's geomagnetically induced currents are below the levels Transpower has been preparing for in its 'worst case scenario' planning.The spokesperson says the electricity industry held a meeting at 1.30pm today to discuss the effects of and response to the storm.Transpower says it is still not anticipating having to cut power in any areas, but teams are continuing to monitor the event.Earlier in the day it issued a grid emergency notice and said it was removing some transmission lines from service across the South Island as a precaution.The storm has the potential to disrupt power and satellites, as well as communications and GPS.The US Space Weather Prediction Centre says G5 (extreme) geomagnetic storms can impact power grids, satellites, and radio communications.The solar storm is expected to peak tonight, with the US Space Weather Prediction Centre forecasting severe conditions from 6-9pm (NZ time) on Saturday.NIWA says although most solar events do not cause much impact, this is an "unusually strong event" so it pays to be prepared.It recommends people ensure they have charged batteries and flashlights in case the power goes out.

Analysis - First-home buyers are still seeing benefits from lower prices and less competition, despite rents being cheaper than mortgages. But a low rental stock is keeping rents high and the government is being called on to pull some more levers to attract investors back in. Here's what moved real estate this week.Who's buying?First-home buyers appear to be taking full advantage of lower property prices and less competition from other buyers.CoreLogic's latest First Home Buyer Report indicates the group accounted for 26 percent of purchases in the first quarter of the year, which is well above the long-term average of 21 percent.And above average first-home buyer (FHB) activity was expected to continue into 2025, CoreLogic chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said.FHBs had remained consistently active since late 2022, he said.The median house price fell to $695,000 in Q1 2024, compared with $699,000 last year, and $715,500 in 2022."The price being paid by FHBs is significantly higher than the lower quartile, or bottom 25 percent, of all buyers, where the median price is $565,000," Davidson said.Low-deposit lending allowances at banks, grants and loans, in addition to draw-downs on KiwiSaver accounts, were helping FHBs, Davidson said.But the return of 80 percent interest deductions, the loosening of CCCFA and LVR rules, and a shorter brightline test from 1 July, could mean more competition in the market.Renters still strugglingChanges to interest deductibility on residential rental properties and the 90-day eviction law have yet to impact the rental stock.Impression Real Estate measured rental activity across 1000 properties in Auckland between November 2023 and April 2024.The agency's chief executive, Rishabh Kapoor, said people viewing each rental property had doubled in the past six months. Homes between $450 and $750 per week were in highest demand.Residential vacancy rates dropped from 3.8 percent to 2.3 percent and prices increased by 6 percent over the same period, he said.More needed to be done to correct the "imbalance in the rental market, especially in the CDB where landlords have had no perceived control over their tenancies", he said."The tribunal was seen as a tenant's service rather than a rental tribunal."A survey by Manawatū Tenants Union (MTU) found renters in Palmerston North and the wider Manawatū region were grappling with rent unaffordability - with some spending nearly 70 percent of their income on rents.It found 89 percent of the 204 responses had little confidence in the government's ability to positively impact the housing market."With stagnant incomes, limited housing supply inflating costs, and renter safeguards under attack, the situation is drastically tilted against overburdened tenants," MTU co-ordinator Cam Jenkins said.Regulating property managersFurthermore, Kapoor said property managers should be regulated - a move the government abandoned, indicating the cost-benefit analysis was marginal and uncertain.The bill would have established a regulatory regime for property managers, including minimum entry requirements, professional standards of practice, and a complaints and disciplinary process.Poorly performing property managers were keeping overly cautious investors away from adding to the rental stock, Kapoor said.However, Housing Minister Chris Bishop said adding more regulation to the rental property market was not the answer.In an industry "where a modest one-person property management business can oversee assets totalling $60 million in retirement savings, it is inconceivable that such a significant sector remains unregulated", Real Estate Institute chief executive Jen Baird said.Zoning changes in WellingtonThe government has signed off on a number of Wellington City Council's housing intensification recommendations.Bishop, who is also the Minister for RMA Reform, approved nine of the council's 10 recommendations, including zoning a strip of Adelaide Road as City Centre Zone, and classifying the Johnsonville train line as rapid transit.These changes will allow six-storey apartment buildings to be built within a 15-minute walk of the city centre, and developments of one to three residential units in medium and high-density residential zones are exempt from the minimum front and side yard requirements.The move was welcomed by property developers, but they cautioned current market conditions and economic viability could put projects out well over a year.Separately, Bishop also signed off recommendations put forward by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council. Now more houses can be built in Ōmokoroa and Te Puke, where there is already access to infrastructure, amenities, and community services.Making Auckland properties flood-safeAuckland Council is urging flood-affected homeowners to do their bit to future-proof the city against further flooding.The council visited 1300 other properties affected by last year's floods and helped them identify major flood risks like roofs without spouting and blocked drains.But while it is offering its services to check houses, it is not offering any cash to help homeowners make these changes.BankingANZ said increased competition had seen first-half interest rate margins squeezed with fewer customers looking to borrow money.The ANZ Bank's profit and revenue in the six months ended in March was steady with the year earlier, despite increasing competition for business.ANZ chief executive Antonia Watson said the bank had been able to grow its market share of the housing market, with a $10 billion increase in home lending, though margins were down by 4 basis points.And Westpac said it was dropping its short-term home loan interest rates which were popular right now."We're responding by trimming our six-month and 12-month rates to 7.29 percent pa [per annum] and 7.24 percent pa respectively," Westpac product, sustainability and marketing, general manager Sarah Hearn said."But we know some customers are looking for longer-term certainty, so we're responding and simplifying our offerings with cuts to our three-year and four-year rates that mean we now have the same 6.39 percent rate across our three, four and five year terms."Social housingA unique social housing project is set to open in Dunedin next month.The Loan and Mercantile building on the city's waterfront will have 30 apartments for low-income tenants from the government's Housing Register. It will also have luxury apartments on another floor.The developer, Lund Dunedin owner Russell Lund said it would likely be the first social housing project in the country inside a heritage-listed building.For developers wanting to go down the same route, he said it was economically more feasible to redevelop an existing heritage building with a large floor plate.

Auckland Council has undertaken a proactive initiative, visiting more than 1300 properties affected by the floods of 2023. Their aim is to assist residents in understanding and mitigating the risks posed by winter storms.The extreme weather events of the previous year underscored the vulnerability of communities to natural disasters. Consequently, there is a pressing need for property owners to bolster their preparedness and resilience in the face of adverse weather conditions.Collaborating across departments, council teams have embarked on a campaign to engage with residents directly. They are educating homeowners on the importance of maintaining clear properties, defining overland flow paths, and providing guidance on reducing flood risks and preparing for future weather events.Mayor Wayne Brown, who personally surveyed flood-affected areas last year, acknowledged the significance of the ongoing efforts. While recognising that these measures may not offer a complete solution, he commended the progress made in enhancing community safety."I am thankful for all the effort our teams have put into flood prevention since I called for action a year ago," said Mayor Brown. "The mayoral grant allocated for this work is being used wisely, and as we head into winter, the advice being offered will help communities understand what they need to do to be prepared for downpours and how to keep themselves and their communities safe."Since the commencement of the programme in October last year, several common issues have been identified:Lack of general maintenance, including house and garden upkeepRoofs lacking spouting or downpipes disconnected from the onsite drainage systemBlocked overland flow paths due to various obstructionsExcessive impervious surfaces on propertiesBlocked catchpits, often filled with debrisSome houses built too close to ground levelAuckland Council's Compliance Manager, Adrian Wilson, highlighted the public's limited awareness of individual flood risks and appropriate responses following the 2023 flood events. Wilson emphasised the council's commitment to educating property owners on stormwater management responsibilities and enforcing compliance where necessary."From the sites visited, we are seeing voluntary compliance from the owners in approximately 30-40 per cent of cases," stated Wilson. "We have implemented a graduated plan to educate first and enforce second."To date, 14 notices to fix have been issued under the Building Act, along with 30 abatement notices under the Resource Management Act and Auckland Unitary Plan.Tom Mansell, Auckland Council's Head of Sustainable Outcomes, stressed the collective responsibility in maintaining the stormwater network to mitigate flood impacts."Understanding the network is not just pipes, drains, and culverts, but also includes natural overland flow paths," said Mansell. "By keeping them clear and allowing water to flow freely and safely through our neighbourhoods will help keep family, property, and communities stay safe during storms."As urban areas intensify and climate change persists, the functionality of overland flow paths will become increasingly critical. Clearing these pathways ensures the safe passage of water during adverse weather conditions, safeguarding families, properties, and communities.Residents are encouraged to utilise the Flood Viewer, launched last year, to access flood hazard information and advice conveniently on mobile and desktop devices. This tool enables individuals to identify overland flow paths, flood-prone areas, flood plains, and coastal inundation areas on their properties.

Defence Minister Judith Collins has unveiled a significant funding injection of NZ$571 million for Defence Force pay and projects in the upcoming Budget."Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly unstable environment," Ms Collins highlights.Out of the additional funding, NZ$163 million is earmarked for enhancing remuneration for New Zealand Defence Force personnel, while NZ$408 million is allocated towards upgrading equipment and infrastructure."NZDF personnel are at the frontline of New Zealand’s security but they cannot do their jobs without the right equipment and conditions," emphasises Ms Collins.Included in the funding is NZ$99 million sourced from savings within the NZDF budget. Pending Cabinet approval, a project is set to commence aimed at replacing the Unimog and Pinzgauer trucks, integral to NZDF operations.The allocated budget also covers various projects, subject to Cabinet approval, including the next phase of upgrading NH90 helicopter navigation systems and radios, enhancing the regional supply facility and logistics model at Linton Military Camp, modernising devices and productivity tools, upgrading digital services, and improving national maritime domain awareness.The Budget will facilitate the leasing of 35 homes for Devonport Naval Base personnel, enhancing their operational support."Together these remuneration increases and projects will help boost our economy while ensuring New Zealand is ready, willing and – crucially - able to play its part internationally," asserts Ms Collins.Ms Collins underlines the current global instability, citing events in Ukraine and the Middle East as impetus for New Zealand's preparedness to contribute to safeguarding international freedoms.Funding specifics include NZ$163 million for personnel remuneration and NZ$408 million for projects, with the bulk of capital funding slated for expenditure over four years from 2024/25.Savings of NZ$107 million over four years have been identified, with NZ$99 million from NZDF reinvested back into remuneration, and NZ$8 million in savings from the Ministry of Defence. These savings primarily stem from concluded projects and reductions in travel and consultancy expenses.The announced projects encompass upgrades to military equipment, including NH90 helicopter navigation systems, operational vehicles, and maritime threat detection capabilities. Infrastructure enhancements include logistics facilities, digital services, and personnel housing.With these investments, New Zealand aims to bolster its defence capabilities, ensuring readiness to confront evolving security challenges on the global stage.

Officials are looking at better ways of choosing who gets the power in the face of occasional shortages - like Friday's - and relentlessly growing and competing demands.The Electricity Authority (EA) told RNZ it was "considering improving the prioritisation processes to filter out more speculative applications" to connect to power networks.This is among a long list of measures the authority, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and others say they have begun work on to make the country's electricity supply better.But a new Ministry of Energy will not be among them."The government has no plans to create a Ministry of Energy," Energy Minister Simeon Brown told RNZ late on Thursday.The largest distributor, Vector in Auckland, has its own long list of connections it has to make and networks it has to build to keep up.It has warned the country needs "a coordinated strategy and a plan" for critical decisions, such as around the new demands of data centres and electric vehicle (EV) charging."We're not saying we want to interfere with the market or anything, but we have to have visibility so we can manage the impact of them," chief executive Simon Mackenzie said."You've got multiple operators coming in and trying to provide new solutions to customers, but they all have to still be coordinated, so that the networks can manage them and ... you're not building network unnecessarily."The government had an overarching Electrify NZ programme focused on boosting investment in renewable electricity generation. Just how that will be done, and just who will do it, are among the big questions.MBIE said there was "no work underway to create a Ministry of Energy or a 'nationwide long-term plan'."Planning and regulating was widely dispersed across MBIE, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, EA and the Commerce Commission.The commission later this year will reset how much revenue is available to the country's 29 distributors - Vector by far the largest - to invest in network upgrades.EA determines how prices are set to access the networks."We are hearing that EV charge point operators believe they face high costs and difficult processes for new connections from distribution businesses," MBIE general manager of energy markets Justine Cannon told RNZ on Thursday.Coincidentally, EA put out its next steps on distribution pricing reform, including connection costs, just on Tuesday."We want distribution pricing to send the right signals about the cost of the electricity that's being fed to homes and businesses," EA said online. It has set up a new group to consult with the industry.The EA gave RNZ a long statement detailing a host of moves it was taking to boost "investment, innovation and transparency"."We're already working with industry to determine what regulatory changes are needed to make it easier to connect load, like public EV charging stations," network pricing director Tim Sparks told RNZ.A 'Supercharging EV Infrastructure Cross-Agency Taskforce' has been set up. Some users were facing "inefficiently high up-front charges that could act as a barrier to electrification", and the authority was working to counter that.It was not all about making it easier; its work included the filter on "more speculative application", Sparks said.On the big job of spreading out peak demand so networks did not have to be over-engineered, its work included improving visibility around how chargers or batteries and other smart devices were being used - what Vector has called for."Less poles and wires" could result from work on a 'flexibility services market' to encourage a wider spread of energy resources, including in more locations.Vector's Mackenzie said other countries had renewable energy zones so "you don't have to upgrade big transmission systems to cater for something that's thousands of miles away from the load"."That all comes under energy strategy," he said.Brown said in a statement the government was pulling down regulatory barriers and overhauling rules that were a decade out of date. This included setting standards for smart devices to shift home charging away from network peaks.

The Blues are set to take on the Hurricanes in a highly anticipated DHL Super Rugby Pacific match at Eden Park this Saturday at 4:35pm. The top-of-the-table clash will feature a unique family showdown, as Blues fullback Zarn Sullivan faces off against his brother, Bailyn, who plays for the Hurricanes.Zarn Sullivan returns from a knee injury and is eager to make an impact. "It's a proud moment for our family," he said, adding, "It's cool to see Bailyn out there, playing good footy." The brothers' family is united in their support, with no divided loyalties. "They're just happy; they're just proud for us," Zarn said.The Blues have made five changes to their starting lineup, with Marcel Renata, Sam Darry, Akira Ioane, AJ Lam, and Bryce Heem joining the starting XV. Rieko Ioane is out due to concussion. The Hurricanes have also made six changes, including Xavier Numia, Caleb Delay, Brad Shields, TJ Perenara, Kini Naholo, and Jordie Barrett.Zarn Sullivan is aware of the significance of the match, stating, "It's a top-of-the-table clash... the boys will be up for the occasion." He expressed his excitement to return to the field, saying, "I can't wait to get out there, put on the jersey, and throw my body around."The match promises to be an intense and thrilling encounter, with both teams vying for top spot in the Super Rugby Pacific ladder. Kickoff is at 4:35pm tomorrow at Eden Park.

The investigation into the discovery of a woman's body in Gulf Harbour in March continues, with police appealing for further public assistance. Despite receiving over 120 calls with information, the identity of the victim remains unknown.Acting Detective Inspector Tim Williams expressed gratitude for the community's support and urged anyone with information to come forward. "We are still urging the community to get in touch with Police if they have any information which may assist," he said.Interpol's involvement has yielded international leads, including recent information from Canada. Police are working closely with experts, including forensic specialists and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research, to gather more information about the victim.The victim is believed to be of Chinese descent, aged between 30 and 50, of slight build, and had her gallbladder removed. Anyone with concerns about a neighbour, tenant, or community member matching this description is encouraged to contact police.The public can provide information directly to the investigation team at 0800 755 021 or through online channels, referencing file number 240312/9837. Anonymous tips can be shared via Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111. Police will continue to provide updates as the investigation progresses.

Auckland, leading the charge in New Zealand, initiates a groundbreaking endeavour to enhance signage accessibility in its public transport system by incorporating sign language.In line with Auckland Transport's commitment to fostering an efficient and secure transport network, alterations to digital signage commence this week at Waitematā (Britomart) train station, integrating New Zealand sign language.A Regional Effort for AccessibilityAuckland Transport collaborates with the Public Transport Accessibility Group (PTAG), a regional advisory body representing diverse communities including the blind, deaf, youth, seniors, physically disabled, and neurodiverse individuals.Teresa Burnett, AT's General Manager of Transport Safety, highlights the importance of inclusivity in safety communications: "In consultation with PTAG, we recognised the need for changes to our facility’s safety and directional messaging to include the deaf community, particularly in the event of a serious network disruption such as the need to evacuate a major station like Waitematā."Months of Preparation Yield ResultsOver the past six months, PTAG has diligently worked on revising fundamental safety communications to incorporate New Zealand sign language. A comprehensive suite of videos, addressing various potential disruptions and providing general station information, has been developed for routine daily operations.Future Plans for ExpansionPlans are underway to extend sign language videos across the ferry network, with potential expansion to AT's remaining train and bus services contingent on positive feedback from the deaf and hearing-impaired community.Burnett underscores AT's commitment to linguistic diversity: "We are also working on te reo Māori translation of the video messaging, so it will be great to eventually have both of our official languages represented, along with English in the months ahead."Addressing Linguistic BarriersThe decision to introduce sign language videos stems from the recognition that relying solely on English-language messages poses challenges for a considerable segment of the deaf community, many of whom may find English difficult to comprehend. This pilot initiative seeks to bridge this gap, with AT expressing a dedication to continually enhancing accessibility on public transport for all.

Widespread public sector layoffs have seen job applications more than double in March and April this year compared to 2023, a recruitment agency says.International recruitment firm Robert Walters' data showed a 112 percent increase in applications for jobs it is recruiting for compared to the same time last year - and a 179 percent jump in Auckland.That was because there were not enough jobs to go around in the capital and people were having to seek work elsewhere, its Wellington senior director Bridget Clark said.The company's Australian offices had also seen a "substantial surge" in applications from New Zealanders intending to cross the ditch or work remotely."If the trend of job cuts persists, we may face a future where there is a severe shortage of skilled workers to fill public sector roles in Wellington," Clark said."This is undoubtedly a disconcerting prospect."Robert Walters could not say how many applications it received in March and April, as it is confidential information.RNZ understands proposed job cuts at ACC and NZTA will be announced on Thursday.More than 4000 jobs have been slashed so far across the public sector.Finance Minister Nicola Willis directed ministries and agencies to reduce expenditure by either 6.5 percent or 7.5 percent to help reduce annual public service spending by $1.5 billion.But cuts are also being made beyond the core public sector, at Crown entities such as WorkSafe and Callaghan Innovation, and Crown research institute NIWA, for example.

New Zealand's largest electricity distributor is warning the country to hurry up with controls around charging electric vehicles or face unnecessary bills running into the billions.A power system that is already prone to shortages like those currently forecast on Friday is facing never-before-seen demand from electric vehicles (EVs) and big data centres.Vector is preparing for it - but the lack of laws and regulations and an Energy Ministry are in its way.Vector chief executive Simon Mackenzie warned it was way past time to get moving."We've been asking for probably over four years now for someone to make a decision that if people are putting in electric vehicle charges that they ensure there's connectivity to our network."All of the agencies that we deal with agree it's a good thing, but no one knows who can make that decision," Mackenzie said.They would have to build much more capacity than necessary, if EV charging was not smoothed out by Vector being empowered to schedule it."If we have the ability to schedule, then we have to build - between now and 2050 - the size of the Auckland network again, and if we had to build it without these scheduling and everything, it would be three times the size."That's billions. It's basically on current day, well over $4 billion."Smart EV charging saves a significant amount of money while meeting the same peak demand, Vector said.Households wanting to get an EV would also pay unnecessarily higher costs, Vector's asset management plan said.The UK and New South Wales have recently regulated for smart scheduling of EV charging and other controls.The government has promised there will be rules here, too, to match a roll-out of 10,000 more chargers by 2030, such as with standards to help shift home-charging away from network peaks.Running all at once, 10,000 fast chargers would suck up almost as much power as all of Auckland.Smoothed out, like Vector had begun successfully doing for EV public buses in Auckland, the network would cope, Mackenzie said.But for the family car, "we are not able to implement such a scheme without regulatory support", its asset management plan said.It needed industry standards to enable communications with chargers, and for smart chargers to connect to the management system."We have set connection standards ... However, our ability to monitor and enforce compliance is limited without legislative and regulatory support."Data centre loads on electricity systemsEVs are only one new load on the power network.The other is data centres - "the most visible new industry being attracted to New Zealand due to its largely renewable generation", according to grid operator Transpower.Vector is planning for 10 new data centres to be running by 2034, most of them sooner rather than later, on top of seven that have started up in the last several years.Each centre typically started by using 4MW of power, than rose to 25MW - enough to power 10,000 homes - Mackenzie said.So far, none of them, not even Microsoft or Amazon's, was a hyperscale data centre capable of swallowing 100MW.Nevertheless, in Albany, and Silverdale, Henderson and the central city, Vector foresees adding connections and sometimes upgrading transformers or other equipment up the line, to cope.Its asset management plan envisages its capital spend ramping up more than 50 percent next year to about $400m, then gradually dropping back to about half that.The plan repeatedly noted that data centres were a key factor "driving rapid and extensive load demand".The direct costs include data centres worth around $95m and $60m in charging infrastructure for 2024-27.However, the data centre companies, not households, would pay for all that, Mackenzie said.They were driven by specific requests to Vector and fully recovered from customers."For these types of things, which is causing the growth of that asset - and whether it's a data centre or EV charging or, you know, electric ferry charging ... we basically charge the cost of that to the developer."They pay 100 percent of those costs."It was Vector's job to connect them, not to choose who got connected, between, say, a subdivision or a data centre, or a factory - even though the power down the line was a finite, pressured resource. Vector has almost 600,000 connections, almost twice as many as the next biggest power distributor."The Electricity Authority, Commerce Commission, MBIE, ECA - there's no one that has been defined as making those kind of critical decisions," Mackenzie said."If we look at what's happened in the UK, they've put in a specific agency. They have essentially mandated those types of things."It's not a criticism of the existing agency. It's basically around saying we need to have a much more coordinated approach."The government last month promised to set up a cross-agency taskforce to engage with industry.

Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis announced the establishment of a dedicated Social Investment Agency (SIA) to drive a new approach to social services in New Zealand.The Minister acknowledged that despite significant government investment in social services, desired outcomes haven't been achieved. She pointed to rising welfare dependency, declining educational attainment, poorer health outcomes, and increased crime as evidence of this."We can, and we must, do better," Willis said. The new approach, social investment, prioritises evidence-based decision-making and focuses on interventions with proven effectiveness. This strategy leverages social science research and technological advancements to target investments towards the most vulnerable populations.The SIA, launching as an independent central agency on July 1st, 2024, will spearhead the development of social investment across government departments. Its core functions include identifying target populations, evaluating program effectiveness, and measuring progress. Additionally, the SIA will develop tools and collaborate with existing agencies to integrate the social investment approach into current support structures.A Social Investment Fund, managed by the SIA, will be established to directly commission outcomes-based services for vulnerable New Zealanders. This fund, planned to launch in 2025, will collaborate with community organisations, non-government organisations (NGOs), and iwi providers. Minister Willis emphasised the long-term vision for the fund, highlighting its potential to grow through partnerships and deliver significant impact across a broad range of social services. Measuring the effectiveness of these investments and adapting underperforming programs will be a key focus of the fund.To guide the transition towards social investment, a Social Investment Board will be formed as a ministerial advisory committee. This board, along with a group of Social Investment Ministers, will provide external input and collaborate on implementing the approach across various government systems."By transforming how we deliver, commission, and scale-up successful social services, we will deliver improvements for our people, their families, and whole communities," concluded Minister Willis.The establishment of the SIA and the social investment approach signal a significant shift in the government's approach to social services in New Zealand. The coming months and years will be crucial in determining the effectiveness of this new strategy in achieving positive outcomes for vulnerable populations.

The country is waking to a bitterly cold morning with temperatures dropping as low as -6C in some areas overnight amid threats of power cuts.Meanwhile, the group representing big industry is warning that appeals to conserve electricity will become more common.Electricity grid operator Transpower on Thursday warned the low temperatures could see power cuts occur if electricity demands spiked too high, particularly between the hours of 7am and 9am.WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:Transpower has warned households that unless they conserve electricity, they could face possible power cuts on Friday.It said households could help by turning off heaters and lights in unused rooms, delaying using appliances, and not charging devices and cars.The time of main concern for power shortages was between 7am and 9am on Friday morning.New Zealand's largest electricity distributor is warning the country to hurry up with controls around charging electric vehicles or face unnecessary bills running into the billions.A group representing big industry is warning that appeals to conserve electricity will become more common.

A fantastic opportunity awaits as the North Shore Schools Careers & Pathways Expo gears up to welcome over 3000 senior students from 19 North Auckland schools. This inclusive event, which also welcomes parents, families, and anyone interested in career pathways, promises a wealth of opportunities for attendees.Taking place on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th June, the expo will run at convenient times: from 11am to 2:30pm and 4pm to 7:30pm on Wednesday, and 9:30am to 2:30pm and 4pm to 7:30pm on Thursday. The venue, the North Harbour Lounge on Level 1 of the North Harbour Stadium in Albany, offers a central and accessible location for all participants.Organised by local secondary schools, including Kingsway School, Orewa College, and Whangaparaoa College, this free event aims to provide a platform for students to explore various career options and pathways under one roof.Exhibitors from over 50 organisations will be present, providing valuable insights and information about different industries. Among the exhibitors are renowned institutions such as AUT, University of Auckland, and NZ Defence Force, alongside industry leaders like Fulton Hogan and Omexom.From entry-level jobs to internships, graduate programmes, and summer jobs, there will be something for every student's career aspirations.With a wide range of exhibitors representing various sectors such as education, hospitality, construction, and law enforcement, attendees can explore their interests and gather valuable information to shape their career journeys.Whether students are considering tertiary education, vocational training, or entering the workforce directly, the expo aims to provide them with the resources and support they need to make informed decisions about their future.Visit the website for more details: https://northshorecareerexpo.nz/

Most people will have heard talk about the median wage and some might even be able to put their finger on it - if you're not one of them, it's in the vicinity of $1250 a week.But that figure is based on incomes for the entire workforce, including school leavers, apprentices, new graduates, experienced professionals, and the semi-retired, to name just a few.So, what are the numbers relevant to your demographic and how does your income stack up?Here's what the Stats NZ data shows.In your teensGetting a part-time job is a rite of passage for a lot of New Zealand teens and can be a lucrative way to spend a few hours after school or at the weekend.Those aged 15 to 19 had a median weekly income of $390 and median hourly rate of $23 an hour.While that is shy of the adult minimum wage ($23.15), it is quite a bit better than than the starting out and training minimum wages ($18.52), both of which can apply to teens (whether that is fair is an issue for another day).In your 20sYour earnings should pick up once your teens and education (or most of it) are behind you.Workers aged 20 to 24 have a median hourly rate of $26 (in line with the current living wage) and median weekly income of $1008. That works out to $52,416 a year.Those in their late twenties earn a median weekly income of $1247 at a rate of $30 an hour.In your 30sIncomes continue to climb as workers hit their early thirties and rack up some experience.The median weekly income for those aged 30-34 is $1360 ($70,720 a year) at a median hourly rate of $33.56.Things are not vastly different for workers in their late thirties, with the median hourly rate of $36.23 and weekly earnings of $1440.In your 40sAlthough you will probably start to notice a few physical changes in your forties (can I interest you in a few more grey hairs, wrinkles, aches and pains?), there is little change in median incomes across this decade.Those aged 40 to 44 earn a median weekly income of $1400, while those in their late forties are only marginally better off at $1419 per week.In your 50sThings start to slide in the final full decade before retirement, with the median weekly income falling to $1396 in the first half and to $1343 ($69,836 a year) in the second half.Meanwhile, the median hourly rate falls by $1 from $34 to $33 between 50 and 59.In your 60sThe end is in sight! But as workers count down to putting their feet up, incomes are also on a downward slide.The median weekly income for those aged 60 to 64 is $1280 at an hourly rate of $34.14.Post-pension age, median weekly income from salary and wages falls to $959, while the median hourly rate is $30.- This story was originally published by Stuff.

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The Coalition Government is taking a pragmatic middle-ground path in its first Budget.Delivering a pre-Budget speech in Lower Hutt this morning,  Finance Minister Nicola Willis outlined the challenging economic landscape.High inflation, soaring interest rates, sluggish growth and rising unemployment have taken a toll on New Zealanders."Everyday workers are hurting and the reality of your struggle is impossible to ignore," Minister said."Our Government is clear-eyed about the raw deal experienced by too many Kiwis in recent times."Cost of Living ReliefTax cuts and targeted spending to ease squeeze on middle class.The Budget's priority is providing relief to the "squeezed middle" - hard-working New Zealanders struggling with the cost of living crisis.Meaningful but modest income tax cuts will increase take-home pay for 83% of those over 15 and 94% of households.These tax reductions will be fully funded to avoid adding to debt or inflation."Treasury modelling indicates fiscally neutral tax relief reduces inflationary pressure and interest rates," Minister explained."Tax relief will be good for our economy."Frontline services like health, education and police will receive targeted spending boosts to deliver better results.Family households can also expect new childcare subsidies under the FamilyBoost payment announced earlier.Durable Savings Identified$1.5b in annual efficiencies to fund investments and balance books.To support new investments while reining in spending, the Government has identified $1.5 billion in annual savings across public sector agencies.This was achieved through line-by-line reviews to reduce back office costs, consultants and lower-value programmes."The savings mean every dollar redirected to frontline services like health and education is working harder for New Zealanders," Minister stated.New revenue measures like taxing online gambling will also contribute to getting books back in surplus over time.Sowing Seeds for the FutureSocial investment to break cycles of vulnerability.Looking ahead, the Budget lays foundations for a "social investment" approach to achieve better outcomes from $70b annual social spending.A new Social Investment Agency will use data and analytics to guide smarter, earlier interventions for the most vulnerable.A Social Investment Fund will directly commission services from communities to improve lives, preventing issues before they escalate.These steps reflect the Government's determination to maximise human potential and build a stronger, wealthier New Zealand, Finance Minister Nicola Willis emphasised.

A significant decline in gas production has raised concerns about energy security, according to figures released by the Gas Industry Co.The data shows a 12.5% reduction in gas production in 2023 and a 27.8% reduction in the first quarter of 2024, exceeding projections.Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Resources Minister Shane Jones have been advised that large gas consumers are struggling to secure contracts due to the supply constraints.Brown attributed the decline to the previous government's policies, which "stifled investment confidence in the natural gas sector."He warned that reduced gas supply would force industrial users to reduce production, leading to increased coal use and higher prices for consumers.The All-of-Government contract for reticulated natural gas, which expires in September, is currently being renegotiated, and low production could result in higher prices and shorter-term contracts for critical services like schools and hospitals.Jones described the situation as a "hangover" from the previous government's policies, which the current government aims to reverse.The Government is working with the sector to increase production, and Jones plans to introduce changes to the Crown Minerals Act to "revitalise the sector and increase production."In response, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has established a Gas Security Response Group to coordinate gas producers, major gas users, and government agencies during this period of tight supply.

NZTA is advising motorists travelling between Ōrewa and Warkworth to prepare for upcoming overnight closures on State Highway 1 (SH1) during May.The closures are necessary to complete finishing works on the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway project. Both northbound and southbound lanes will be affected, stretching from Pukerito roundabout north of Warkworth to Grand Drive near Ōrewa.The closures will take place over five nights, starting from 9pm on Sunday, May 12th, and continuing until 5am each following morning. A contingency period of five additional nights, starting from May 19th, has also been scheduled in case of unforeseen circumstances.NZTA emphasises that these works are weather-dependent and cannot proceed in high winds or storms with lightning. The agency acknowledges the possibility of rescheduling due to poor weather.Detour InformationMotorists can expect delays during the closure period. NZTA has advised travellers to plan their journeys ahead of time and follow the designated detour routes.Northbound traffic will be diverted via the Twin Coast Discovery Highway and the old State Highway 1 to reach Warkworth. Southbound motorists will need to use the old State Highway 1 and the Twin Coast Discovery Highway to access the Ōrewa southbound on-ramp, as joining the motorway before the Johnstones Hill Tunnels will not be possible.Delays Due to Previous ClosureNZTA explains that these motorway finishing works were previously delayed to minimise disruption caused by the extended closure of SH1 at Brynderwyn. With the recent slip further prolonging the Brynderwyn closure, postponing the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth works is no longer feasible.NZTA says it appreciates motorists' patience and understanding as they complete this critical infrastructure project.