Category: Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The government may put on hold its plans to raise fuel taxes next year, as it deals with how to respond to the fuel crisis.

National campaigned on not lifting fuel taxes at all in its first term, which Transport Minister Chris Bishop maintains was “the right thing to do” in a cost of living crisis.

Instead, the government plans to bring in a 12 cents per litre increase from January 2027, followed by a 6 cents per litre rise in 2028, and 4 cents per litre in subsequent years.

Fuel taxes are set at a flat rate per litre, meaning they do not go up or down as the price of fuel does.

The government has been resistant to cutting the fuel tax in the crisis, wary that doing so would subsidise demand.

The transport system is supposed to be user-pays, but Bishop said increasingly it was coming from general taxation.

Speaking to the Automobile Association’s annual conference on Friday morning, Bishop admitted that not raising fuel excise duty had deferred the issue of how the government funds transport infrastructure until later.

But he hinted the government may defer the anticipated rise further.

“I have to be honest with you, the idea that we would raise fuel tax during a fuel crisis doesn’t seem like a starter to me. So we’re thinking hard about these funding challenges. They are real, and they do exist.”

The government’s intention is to replace all fuel excise duty with road user charges, which diesel and electric vehicles already pay.

Bishop also said people’s transport habits were changing in response to the conflict.

Comparing the two weeks pre-conflict in mid-February with seven-day rolling averages in the subsequent weeks, Bishop said there had been a reduction of approximately 20 percent in vehicle kilometres travelled by car.

“This is not necessarily surprising when petrol prices are up about 30 percent. Also not surprising is that people are responding in a predictable way, they’re using public transport more.”

Public transport boardings were up more than 10 percent in Auckland and Wellington.

Last week also saw the highest number of electric vehicles registered since the end of 2023, around the time the new government abolished the Clean Car Discount scheme.

Year-do-date EV registrations were nearly 2000 higher than this time last year.

But Bishop was adamant the government would not bring back the discount, saying people who did not have the ability to make the transition to EVs were having to pay more, to give money to people who could make the transition.

“It was a regressive wealth transfer policy, and so we will not be bringing back the Clean Car Discount.”

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A 50-year-old woman who was reported missing from the Birkenhead area in Auckland has been found on Friday morning.

Earlier today, police had appealed for sightings of Jacqueline who was last seen near Fernglen Gardens on Kauri Road at around 12.30pm on Thursday.

Police and Jacqueline’s family had been concerned for her wellbeing and wanted her to return home.

In a statement, police thanked members of the public who shared the appeal and the information provided to them as a result.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Northland Civil Defence teams are assessing the damage after the latest storm with the Far North and Whangārei set to remain under a state of emergency for another six days.

Hundreds of people were evacuated in Kaitaia on Thursday night and more than 400 households and businesses were still without power on Friday morning after the heavy rain.

Damage has again been done to the roading network in the upper North Island with roads and state highways closed and drivers urged to take care due to surface flooding and slippery conditions.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A prominent backer of the Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme says he’s already fielding interest from international investors.

It is a project that has been around for years, picked up by the last Labour government, but then scrapped after the election amid strong criticism from National.

Now it is being backed by a private-sector firm, The Clutha Pumped Hydro Consortium, and the government has agreed to refer the scheme for possible fast-tracking.

Consortium member and also former Meridian Energy chief executive and Transpower chairperson Keith Turner told Morning Report the large infrastructure project was perfect for fast-track consideration.

He said the group was pleased to finally see some momentum and others were taking an interest.

“Projects like this have got real appeal to big international investors that want long-dated revenues.

“I’ve been working in Australia with the New South Wales government doing big renewable energy zones. Global companies from all around the world have turned up for that and they’ve all been whispering in my ear that they’d love to do business in New Zealand.

“So we’ve already got interest from some pretty big companies from overseas and believe it or not a lot of support in New Zealand too.”

He said the group had been in regular communication with local iwi and would be happy to have them on board.

Turner estimated the build would cost around $8-10 billion and if successful, could be up-and-running by 2035.

He said the project was similar in scale to the Manapōuri Power Station and could generate a lot of power for a relatively small lake.

“It can store about 5000 gigawatt-hours and that’s enough to cover a dry year-and-a-half so it’s a very important feature for the future.”

One gigawatt-hour can power roughly 10,000 homes for a year.

Turner said the plant could work as a battery – water could be pumped back into the lake during periods of low energy demand.

“When the prices are low it usually means there’s a lot of spare power … so we would pump the water up to Lake Onslow.

“It can do several things. It can deal with these dry years because it stores a lot, but it can also do this on a daily cycle. So it could generate when every body gets up for breakfast and it can pump overnight when the prices are low and there’s not much demand.”

Turner rejected concerns that the project would undermine energy companies’ long-term planning.

“When you build wind farms they don’t match up to the demand profile. You need something else to help when there’s no wind. A project like this actually provides a floor in the price because it’s going to be buying power to pump and it will provide intermittency support for wind.”

He believed the project would “unlock some very big wind development in Southland”.

A spokesperson for the Ministry for the Environment said the Minister for Infrastructure had issued a decision to refer the project to the Fast-track approvals process.

“It is eligible to lodge a substantive application to be considered by an expert panel.

“Information on the referral decision is available on the Fast-track projects website here: Clutha Pumped Hydro.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

MetService says there’s a strong likelihood of several regions being upgraded to red heavy rain warnings as a damaging storm sweeps across the country.

Northland and Whangārei are currently in a state of emergency, which will last for seven days.

Although rainfall is set to ease for both regions, others may soon be in the flood firing line.

So which regions are preparing for the worst?

Tauranga

Tauranga City Council is also warning people of landslide risks.

An orange heavy rain warning remains in place for Tauranga through to 1am on Saturday.

The warning has a high chance of being upgraded to a red warning.

Due to earlier rainfall and slips, it said there was an increased risk of new landslide occurring and more damage at sites which had already experienced slides.

“If you learn or suspect that a landslide is occurring or is about to occur in your area evacuate immediately if it is safe to do so.

“Seek higher ground outside the path of the landslide. Getting out of the path of a landslide or debris flow path is your best protection.”

Adams Avenue, between Pilot Bay and the Maunganui Rd roundabout, would be closed to vehicles from 5pm due to the heavy rain warning.

“This is a precautionary approach following geotechnical advice about the current risks on Mauao from anticipated rainfall.

“The road will not be opened until the rain event has passed and we have expert advice regarding the safety of the area.”

Bay of Plenty

Bay of Plenty Civil Defence is warning of possible land slides and for people to stay inside if possible.

Up to 180 millimetres of rain is expected, with the region’s orange warning likely to be upgraded to a red.

MetServices said surface flooding and road closures are expected.

Visit MetService, NZTA or the council website for updates, the region’s Civil Defence said.

Coromandel

Meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said there was a high chance of the Coromandel’s orange rain warning being upgraded to red.

A heavy rain warning was in place for the area from 4pm Thursday until at least 6pm Friday.

MetService said expect up to 80 to 120mm of rain on top of what has already fallen.

It said rain up to 200mm was also possible for the Coromandel Peninsula.

Auckland

All of Auckland is now under orange rain and wind warnings, with a low chance of being upgraded to red warnings.

Auckland Civil Defence said residents should prepare for flooding and stay up-to-date via MetService and the NZTA website.

Taranaki / Central North Island

MetService says to expect 100 to 150mm of rain on Taranaki Maunga before noon Friday.

Strong winds are expected in Taupo and Taumarunui, with a heavy rain watch on the former until 10pm Friday.

Taihape, Whanganui and South and Central Taranaki can also expect strong wind through to about 9am.

East Cape

There is a heavy rain watch in place for Gisborne north of Tokomaru Bay, and Bay of Plenty north of Te Kaha, with a moderate chance of upgrading to warning status.

Nelson/Tasman

Residents in the Nelson and Tasman districts are being asked to prepare for severe weather, with up to 250 millimetres of rain expected in some areas.

An orange heavy rain warning is in effect for Tasman northwest of Motueka until 4pm Friday, with a a high chance the warning will be upgraded to red.

Nelson Tasman Civil Defence said the rain was settling in on Thursday, and people should be careful around rivers and streams, and on the roads.

Rest of South

Orange heavy rain warnings are also in place for the Richmond and Bryant ranges, as well as parts of Westland, south Canterbury, and north Otago.

MetService said up to 90mm of rain could fall in North Otago and Canterbury.

There was a minimal chance of the warning upgrading to red, it said.

Red weather warnings ‘no joke’

National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA) director of civil defence emergency management John Price confirmed further red warnings for parts of the country were likely.

“Red weather warnings are real and no joke, and I’m urging people not to put themselves in harm’s way, as your life safety is critical.

“MetService only issues red warnings for the most extreme weather events. Heavy rain and severe winds can cause flooding and landslides, which can kill or cause serious harm.”

Price urged people to “trust their danger sense” and not be foolish.

“If you get into trouble and need rescuing, you’ll be holding up emergency services who need to be looking after our most vulnerable.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand