Source: New Zealand Police
The north bound lanes of State Highway 5, at the Bayview end, Te Pohue have been closed due to dangerous conditions following a diesel spill.
Road cleaning crews have been called to deal with the spillage.
Motorists are advised to take care and drive to the conditions.
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Source: New Zealand Police
Please attribute to Acting Senior Sergeant Bernie O’Brien.
Police officers working dedicated area patrols to prevent burglaries in the Horowhenua area last week caught a recidivist offender with help from a quick-thinking caretaker.
On Thursday 3 July the Old Horowhenua Hospital complex was targeted with an offender cutting the main water supply to the site.
The burglary was discovered by workers on Friday morning and the damage repairs were estimated to be around $20,000. A plumber had to be called to reconnect the water supply to the building.
At about 9am on Saturday 5 July police were called to a burglary in progress by a caretaker at the hospital complex.
Police arrived to find a male running through the back fence of the complex. He had fled the premises allegedly leaving a substantial amount of copper piled up in sacks ready to go.
Police made immediate area enquiries and this work encouraged the suspect to report to the station and hand himself in.
Over several months the Old Horowhenua Hospital has been targeted by burglars removing copper pipes from within the buildings and under the floors.
While the site is no longer a hospital it is still the offices for community organisations such as The Horowhenua Learning Centre, and Life to the Max who rely on the building for their daily work.
The burglaries have caused thousands of dollars of damage and cutting and stealing pipe undermines the infrastructure of the building which can lead to further damage.
The offender responsible has been charged with five counts of burglary and will appear in the Levin District Court today.
Police would like to thank the public for their help in locating the person responsible for the burglaries and damage. Their quick thinking alerting police immdiately made all the difference.
We continue to encourage members of the public contact us if you see any suspicious or unlawful behaviour in the community.
Please contact Police on 111 immediately with as much information you can safely gather if an offence is currently in progress.
Information can be reported in non-emergencies or afterwards online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Make a Report” or call 105.
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Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Government
Tens of thousands of households will be better off thanks to changes being made to FamilyBoost to help families with the cost of living, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
“From the start of this month, families will get larger FamilyBoost rebates on the early childhood education fees they pay, with rebates increasing from 25 per cent to 40 per cent of weekly fees, and those with household incomes of up to $229,000 now eligible to apply.
“This means for example that a family with early childhood fees of $100 a week could have their weekly FamilyBoost payment increased from $25 a week to $40 a week, meaning their annual payments would increase from $1,300 to $2,080 over the course of a year, making them hundreds of dollars better off.
“FamilyBoost rebates are calculated according to the weekly fees parents pay, so the maximum payment is also increasing, from $75 a week to $120 a week. The maximum refund is only available to those who pay weekly fees of $300 or more, however it’s important to note that parents at all fee levels can now claim 40 per cent of their total fees, so these changes will result in bigger payments for many families who already take part in the scheme.
“Cabinet has also decided to increase the number of families eligible for the scheme, by reducing the abatement rate for families earning more than $140,000. This means the upper limit for households to receive a portion of FamilyBoost increases from $180,000 a year of income to just under $230,000.
“We know many people are still doing it tough. These changes will help many families to deal with the increased costs that come with having young children.
“The changes will put more money in the bank accounts of households currently receiving FamilyBoost and extend the scheme to thousands of families that were previously ineligible for it.
“We note that only eligible families who make a claim will receive the rebate. To date, around 60,000 families have successfully claimed the FamilyBoost tax credit which is less than the number of families estimated to be eligible.
“The changes we are making will make around 22,000 more households eligible for the scheme. Based on the current take-up rate, officials estimate this may result in up to 16,000 more families accessing the payment.
“Officials estimate these changes can be accommodated within the appropriation set for the scheme in Budget 2024.
“I encourage all households who think they may be eligible for FamilyBoost to register for it on Inland Revenue’s website. Families who have done so tell us it is simple to do and only takes five minutes.
“FamilyBoost is paid out every three months. The changes will apply for fees paid from 1 July, with claims available to be made from 1 October.
“We have also asked officials to progress work on longer term improvements to the scheme, including by having fees information provided directly to Inland Revenue by ECE providers. FamilyBoost will also be included in the Early Childhood Education Funding Review which is examining the full range of supports available to families with children in early childhood education.”
Legislation giving effect to the changes will be introduced in time for the increases to be in place when households next claim rebates in October. The changes will apply to fees incurred from 1 July 2025.
Source: BNZ Statements
Tech founders creating innovative, high growth companies can face a surprising obstacle outside the startup ecosystem – they frequently struggle to secure home loans.
Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) has addressed this challenge with the launch of Founder Housing: a new home loan solution designed specifically for tech entrepreneurs.
The new proposition addresses a common frustration in the tech community: founders of tech companies often have business losses counted against their personal income, which can make them ineligible for home loans, even when their businesses are thriving and backed by significant investment.
“We kept hearing the same story from tech founders and entrepreneurs,” says Tim Wixon, Head of Technology Industries at BNZ.
“They’d built promising companies, secured investment, and were earning good salaries, but couldn’t buy homes because traditional lending criteria didn’t recognise the way high-growth tech startups operate. It just didn’t make sense.”
One founder’s journey
Startup founder Emily Blythe’s experience illustrates this challenge. As CEO of Pyper Vision, an innovative aerospace startup developing AI-powered fog forecasting technology, Blythe has built a company with strong financial backing and major partnerships, including trials with Air New Zealand and British Airways CityFlyer. Yet when she tried to buy her first home, traditional lending criteria worked against her.
“I had a stable salary and a consistent track record of Pyper Vision paying me, but that wasn’t recognised by most banks,” Blythe explains. “What was particularly frustrating was that two of my team had recently secured bank loans easily, but because they were employees rather than the founder, banks viewed their positions as more secure than mine.”
Despite Pyper Vision’s strong fundamentals – including Startmate accelerator backing, government support, and enterprise partnerships – Blythe was rejected by eight different banks over a three-month period.
“I spoke to other founders going through the same struggle who couldn’t find a solution,” she says.
“They were having their partners buy houses instead or setting up complex trust structures – anything to work around the system.”
Blythe’s experience highlights exactly why BNZ developed Founder Housing.
The problem stems from how growth-focused tech companies structure their finances. Early-stage businesses typically prioritise R&D, marketing and expansion over profit, creating accounting losses that appear on founders’ personal financial assessments despite potentially strong business fundamentals.
BNZ’s Founder Housing takes a different approach by evaluating business viability and potential rather than focusing solely on profit and loss statements. The solution recognises institutional investment as a positive indicator and includes specialised assessment criteria tailored to tech companies.
“It’s about applying the right approach and metrics for this type of business model,” Wixon says.
“A founder running an equity-backed company with strong growth metrics is often a very different proposition from what traditional lending criteria might suggest.”
For Blythe, BNZ’s approach proved different.
“It wasn’t the standard black-and-white response of ‘you’re a founder, therefore we can’t approve this.’ BNZ actually evaluated both the company’s financial position as a tech business and my personal circumstances together. It was a much more logical and rational approach.”
Securing her Christchurch home has provided crucial stability for her role leading an international business.
“Having my own home gives me the freedom to travel for work, knowing I have a secure base to return to. It’s the first time I’ve felt properly grounded.”
Her advice to other tech founders facing similar challenges is clear: “I’d strongly recommend working with BNZ’s team. The traditional banking approach to founders is just ridiculous.”
Banking on growth
Founder Housing builds on BNZ’s established commitment to supporting New Zealand’s tech ecosystem.
The bank has pioneered several innovative financing solutions for technology companies, including Revenue Based Financing for SaaS businesses launched in 2021, and Contracted Receivables Financing introduced in 2023 to help high-tech manufacturing, infrastructure, software-enabled hardware and biotech companies access capital based on signed contracts rather than traditional profit measures.
Last month, BNZ also announced fast-approval unsecured business loans up to $50,000 that can be confirmed in just three minutes, recognising that businesses need to move quickly when opportunities arise.
“We’ve been working to rewrite the playbook for how banks can better support tech companies at every stage of their journey,” Wixon says.
“Founder Housing is the natural extension of that work – supporting the founders themselves, not just their businesses.”
The solution’s introduction comes at a time when supporting innovation and competitive business settings are increasingly recognised as vital for economic development.
“We’re proud to be the first major bank to turn this approach into a formal proposition,” Wixon says.
“By understanding the unique challenges these founders face, we can help them build personal assets while they continue growing their businesses here in New Zealand, helping to attract and retain talent in Aotearoa.
*All home loans are subject to BNZ lending criteria (including minimum equity requirements), terms and fees.
The post Tech founders get keys to home ownership with BNZ’s new home loan solution appeared first on BNZ Debrief.
Source: New Zealand Police
The Kennedy Good Bridge intersection with State Highway 2 is closed due to a serious crash.
Emergency services are in attendance, one person has sustained serious injuries.
Police request motorists to avoid the area and find an alternative route to access State Highway 2.
Access to the highway at this junction is likely to be restricted for at least 2 hours.
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Source: New Zealand Police
State Highway 1 is blocked at Hukerenui following a serious crash involving two vehicles this evening.
Emergency services were called to the scene, between Akerama and Rusk roads, about 7.45pm.
Initial indications suggest two people have serious-to-critical injuries, and another has minor injuries.
The Serious Crash Unit has been notified and diversions are in place.
Northbound traffic will be diverted along Crows Nest Road while southbound traffic will be diverted along Paiaka Road.
Motorists are advised to expect delays.
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Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Mark McCloy:
A man has died following a hunting incident near Lords River, Stewart Island yesterday.
Police were notified of the incident at around midday.
A Search and Rescue team was deployed to the island via helicopter, and located the man deceased.
Investigations are underway, which include speaking to those who were in the area at the time.
The Coroner has been advised.
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Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Government
The Acting Prime Minister has extended warm congratulations to Hugh Jackson on being crowned the 2025 FMG Young Farmer of the Year.
“Last night I was lucky enough to attend the Young Farmer of the Year grand final in Invercargill. It was a brilliant event, celebrating the future of farming and showcasing their expertise, leadership, and passion for agriculture,” says Mr Seymour.
“Hugh Jackson from the Waikato Bay of Plenty demonstrated exceptional skill, leadership, and knowledge in one of the most historic competitions in the country. They have a bright future ahead of them, and I wish them all the best for their future in farming.
“Even for a townie from Epsom it’s impossible to not appreciate the contribution farmers make to New Zealand. We are lucky to live in a country that produces food the world loves, and with export revenue on track to surpass $60 billion for the first time, agriculture is very much central to New Zealand’s future prosperity.
“Last night’s awards ceremony was testament not only to the achievements of those competing, but to the strength and future of New Zealand’s rural sector. The industry is in safe hands judging by the talent on display.
“I’d also like to thank the organisers for inviting me to this event. It is inspiring to see the next generation of farmers being recognized for their talent and passion.”
Source: New Zealand Police
Emergency services are assisting the victim of a serious crash in the Avon Road area, Pokeno.
Police were called to the scene about 6pm.
Initial indications suggest a person has fallen from a vehicle and has been seriously injured. It’s believed the incident occurred on SH2, between Pokeno and Mangatawhiri.
Road closures are in place, and Police ask motorists to avoid the area.
We would also like anyone who witnessed this incident to please speak with us as soon as possible.
If you can help, please call 105 and quote reference number P063076728.
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Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
To be attributed to Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Deegan, Central District Investigations Manager:
The 6-month-old baby who was found with critical injuries at a Foxton Beach house last weekend has now sadly died.
Police were called to the Seabury Avenue property early last Sunday, and the baby had been airlifted to Starship Hospital in Auckland.
A homicide investigation has now commenced as Police continue to work to establish when and how the fatal injuries likely occurred.
A number of people have already been spoken with and we continue to liaise with medical experts.
We extend our condolences to the baby’s family at this time, and request their privacy be respected.
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Issued by Police Media Centre