Source: New Zealand Police
Cambridge Road, Cambridge is currently blocked following a crash this evening.
Police were called to the single-vehicle crash, where a truck has rolled, around 5.30pm.
The sole-occupant of the truck appears to have sustained moderate injuries.
The road will be blocked for some time, as bitumen has leaked from the truck and requires clean up.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area where possible and expect delays.
ENDS
Source: Radio New Zealand
File photo. RNZ
The odds of the Reserve Bank (RBNZ) raising its benchmark interest rate by the end of the year have narrowed after the latest inflation numbers.
Stats NZ data showed a 0.6 percent rise in consumer prices in the three months ended December, pushing the annual rate to an 18-month high of 3.1 percent, just above the RBNZ’s target band.
The RBNZ has been betting on the slack in the economy caused by recession and weak activity to put downward pressure on inflation, with domestic price pressures of wages, rents, rates, insurance, and electricity expected to ease gradually through the year.
RBNZ governor Anna Breman reaffirmed her commitment and confidence in getting inflation back into the target band.
“We still have favourable conditions in terms of reaching 2 percent because we have spare capacity and wage growth is still subdued, and our job is to do a balancing act going forward to ensure that we reach that,” Breman said in a pre-arranged interview with the Reuters news agency.
Her comments about a current data release were highly unusual, although they were similar to those made before the end of last year. She made no mention of any move in the official cash rate.
Economists interpreted the latest data as a sure sign that the next move in the OCR was higher, the only issue being when.
The RBNZ’s own calculation of core inflation edged higher to 2.8 percent, which ASB senior economist Mark Smith said showed the fall in domestic inflation has stalled.
“If anything, underlying pricing pressures look to be picking up.”
“There is the risk that annual inflation over 2026 will not cool to the circa 2 percent RBNZ expectation. Today’s CPI data and the RBNZ estimates for core inflation supports this view,” Smith said.
He said ASB was now picking a 25 basis point OCR rise to 2.5 percent in December, and another couple of hikes in the first half of 2027 to 3 percent.
“Rather than tapping on the monetary policy brakes, the moves should be interpreted as the RBNZ easing off on the accelerator,” Smith said.
ANZ senior economist Miles Workman agreed the next OCR move was higher and most likely in December.
He said the RBNZ had to balance between wanting to get inflation lower and not squashing the signs of economic recovery that have been showing through.
“The RBNZ will be aware that if it comes out too hawkish in February and thereby tightens monetary conditions before current green shoots have a chance to get established, those shoots could easily wither.”
In her interview, Breman confirmed the mixed outlook with some “weak signals” such as the fall in December retail sales and lack of strong recovery in the labour market, but a pick up in growth.
“We will get some data on the labour market coming out now in early February, so that will also be important.”
“We have to take all of this information into account when we go into the next meeting.”
The RBNZ makes its next monetary statement on 18 February.
Financial markets are pricing in the first increase in the OCR by October, and a second by year’s end.
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Source: Radio New Zealand
Emergency crews have been searching the Mahurangi River for any signs of a man who was swept away on Wednesday. RNZ / Finn Blackwell
Emergency crews spent the day scouring the Mahurangi River north of Auckland for any signs of a man swept away earlier this week.
The 47-year-old Kiribati man was last seen on Wednesday when he and his vehicle were washed away near Falls Road in Warkworth.
The man’s nephew was able to escape and sound the alarm.
On Friday, emergency crews made up of about 30 people resumed their search.
Police say additional resources were deployed to the area. RNZ / Finn Blackwell
A number of people wearing hi-viz were wandering the banks of the river Friday morning, searching through dense bush and debris left by the storm.
Drones were also deployed during the day. A large drone flew high above the river while a smaller drone flew close to the bank.
Later, a fire and Emergency rescue raft was seen making its way down the river.
Those on board were searching under large piles of branches and detritus left behind by this week’s earlier severe weather.
Police said additional resources had been deployed to the area.
Searchers have been going through dense bush and debris left by the storm. RNZ / Finn Blackwell
Senior sergeant Carl Fowlie said 17 Land Search and Rescue staff as well as the water rescue crew from Fire and Emergency were assisting in the search.
“Police is continuing to support the man’s family through this difficult time,” Fowlie said.
“We thank all other agencies who have been called upon in recent days for their assistance.”
Fowlie said everyone involved in the search operation was focused on finding the man.
On Friday evening police said they will continue to monitor conditions over the coming days and deploy resource accordingly.
Meanwhile, the wife of the missing man, who RNZ agreed not to name, told a reporter on Thursday she was still holding out hope her husband was alive.
The Mahurangi River north of Auckland where the search has been taking place. RNZ / Finn Blackwell
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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Roading crews across the Bay of Plenty are working hard to clear slips and get vital transport links open fast, says Sandra King, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Bay of Plenty System Manager.
“This has been a devastating weather event that has caused a lot of damage to roads, properties and communities. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by this storm.
“Our focus over the last few days has been assessing the damage and restoring access to roads that have been heavily impacted.
“While the broader network has performed reasonably well, there remains significant damage across state highways.
“As we head into the long weekend we strongly encourage people to follow the advice of Civil Defence and local councils, only travel if necessary and check NZTA’s Journey Planner before they get on the roads,” says Ms King.
The following sections of state highway in the Bay of Plenty are now open:
The following sections of state highway in the Bay of Plenty are still currently closed:
Crews have worked around the clock across the whole network to get vital transport links open again.
SH2 Waioweka Gorge teams are working on large slip sites at both ends of the closure and will be working through the long weekend. An on-the-ground assessment up to 14km past the largest Goldsmith site will allow the team to plan ahead once digger access is possible.
SH2 south of Gisborne is the only detour route open. The State Highway 35 (SH35) detour route remains closed between Tikitiki north to Pōtaka, due to slips, flooding and debris.
“The immediate focus has been getting roads open again, but we may not be out of the woods yet. Over the coming days and weeks, the ground will be very sodden and the roads remain susceptible to movement, potholes, landsides, overslips, and underslips. We urge people to remain extremely careful.
“We’ll be actively monitoring the network to repair any further damage that we might see and will keep people informed if further work is required,” says Ms King.
For the latest information on closures and roadworks, go to journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link).
Source: Radio New Zealand
Black Caps coach Rob Walter said the players all feel for pace bowler Adam Milne, who has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup because of a torn hamstring.
Milne suffered the injury while bowling in South Africa’s SA20 league on Sunday, with scans later revealing it was bad enough to prevent him from playing in next month’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Milne, 33, has been replaced by all-rounder Kyle Jamieson, who is playing for the New Zealand white-ball teams in India as they prepare for the World Cup.
“We’re all gutted for Adam,” Milne said.
“He’d worked so hard to get himself ready for the tournament and was looking back to his best in his eight games for the Eastern Cape Sunrisers.
“It’s unfortunate timing for Adam, and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
Jamieson would be a worthy replacement, Walter said.
“It’s great that Kyle is already with us here in India.
“He’s an integral member of our pace-bowling group and has hit the ground running on this tour.
“He’s a hard worker with a good set of skills and experiences that will hold him [in] good stead for the tournament.”
Walter confirmed a replacement travelling reserve for the T20 World Cup would be confirmed later.
The Black Caps are playing India in the second of five T20 internationals in Raipur on Saturday at 2.30am (NZ time).
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Source: Radio New Zealand
The chief chef at Hicks Bay Motor Lodge said two feet of deep silt, water and debris surrounded the motel after a large slip crashed into the back of rooms on Thursday morning.
Georgina Taiapa said water was still flowing down from a nearly 200-square-metre slip that crossed SH35 and swept down into the lodge.
Helicopters have been air-lifting help and supplies into Te Araroa and Hicks Bay today after slips and flooding cut off the East Cape community on Wednesday night.
Taiapa – who is also a member of the Hicks Bay rural fire brigade – was staying at the lodge to keep an eye on guests – and receive any local evacuees – when the slip came down at about 3am Thursday.
She moved about five guests into the lodge’s restaurant and looked after them with food and coffee until daylight.
When the sun came up, she was able to see the extent of the devastation.
Slips across SH35 above Hicks Bay Motor Lodge. Supplied
“There was just water and debris and silt everywhere, and then when I went up around the back, [and] there was just sludge and all the water running off the slip. Where the slip had come down, there were just big trees. We were quite lucky, actually,” Taiapa said.
She said the flooding in recent days was the worst she’d seen in nearly 16 years in the area.
Her own home – near the Wharekahika river – had been “flooded out” and she would be staying at the lodge until she could find somewhere to live.
Slips across SH35. Supplied
“I haven’t been able to get down here and have a look, but I’ve been sent videos of it. It is what it is.
“Just until they can sort something else with the house, but that’s going to be a long time. You’ve got to carry on. Can’t do anything about it. I’m just making sure that the guests are all safe and well, and they all get evacuated and get back where they need to get to. I’m okay.”
She said the lodge was well equipped for food for the next couple of days, and power had come back at about 1.30 pm on Friday.
The owner of the lodge, Tony Holden, said about eight rooms had been yellow stickered by the council following the slip.
Gisborne District Council said at least 90 households were cut off in the Tai Rāwhiti district, but not all would require assistance at this stage.
By midday Friday, there had been four helicopter drop-offs across the area, which had been used to deliver two building assessment teams, conduct welfare checks and move people to other locations.
Another four flights were scheduled to deliver medical supplies and food to parts of Hicks Bay and Te Araroa later in the day.
Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz told RNZ on Friday morning that at least seven communities were cut off and more information would come to light about their needs during the day.
“After today, we’ll be able to know who is there. It is a small community, but still, they have real needs – especially for this weekend with no access. We have to look at their water and food needs, their electricity needs. All of that is what we will take into account today,” Stoltz said.
Gisborne District Council chief executive, Nedine Thatcher Swan, said the exact number of isolated communities – needing supplies flown in – was likely to grow as the day progressed.
The Gisborne District Council says flooding and slips have severely impacted Onepoto, Wharekahika and Te Araroa. SUPPLIED
“It’s been really hard to try and understand the number that are impacted, so that’s why we’ve got people deployed in there this morning to really get a grip up on how many,” she said.
“Speaking to our community link teams in there yesterday, they’re talking like they’re cut off from Tai Rāwhiti, but – within there – we’ve got pockets that are cut off from one another.”
Slips and unstable land could cause problems in the area for weeks to come. She was urging people to stay clear of any landslips in the district.
“Just be very, very careful. Do not go near those landslides. The ground may still be unstable – no matter how much we may think we know that area – they are unpredictable and could move without warning.”
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Source: Radio New Zealand
Two bodies were recovered by police on Thursday at the Welcome Bay home. RNZ / Calvin Samuel
A child killed alongside his grandmother when a landslide hit a house in Pāpāmoa was a “bright” talented musician, his piano teacher says.
Two bodies were recovered by police at the home on Welcome Bay Rd on Thursday.
RNZ understands they were a grandmother and grandchild.
St Peter’s Anglican Church director of music Chalium Poppy said the boy was due to come to a piano lesson at the Mt Maunganui church on Thursday.
Poppy said he was contacted by a friend of the family to say the boy was missing in one of the slips.
“I’d been teaching all morning, so I hadn’t heard the news about the slips yet, and so I was a little bit caught off guard and on the back foot, but it became obvious during the day that it was a lot more serious,” he said.
“Then I found out again from a friend of the family, whose son also takes piano from me, that it was confirmed today that he was one of the two victims.”
Poppy said the boy had recently started taking piano lessons with him.
“He had only sort of just started, so he had a few lessons… but like with all my students, I always sort of do a meet and greet first and make sure that it’s going to be a right fit for the student and the parents and everything and so I got to know him through sort of the meet and greet more than his lessons, but he was just really bright and incredibly talkative… asked lots of really great questions, like a really cool, sort of inquisitive mind, and obviously talented musically.”
The church had opened its doors on Friday and were holding a vigil.
“It’s all just very raw, like it’s just happening, there are still people that are missing,” he said.
“We’re just responding the only way that… the church knows how, and that’s to sort of open up our doors, provide sanctuary, provide a place for people to come and pray and sit in silence and light a candle. We’re here to serve the community, so that’s exactly what we do, and especially in times of need.”
Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson confirmed on Friday afternoon one of the people who died at Welcome Bay was a Chinese national.
An aerial photo of Welcome Bay Rd where a landslide came down. Supplied
He confirmed six people were currently unaccounted for, including two teenagers, following the landslide at Mt Maunganui.
The youngest of those missing was 15-years-old.
“We have been unable to establish the whereabouts of three further individuals.
“While we do not currently believe they were involved in the slip, further enquiries are required to rule it out.
“Those three parties are believed to be tourists, and we believe it is likely they left the area.”
Police were asking anyone with video footage of the slip at Mt Maunganui yesterday to upload it via this online portal.
“Additionally, anyone who might have information that could help our enquiries into the three parties whose whereabouts are yet to be determined is also asked to get in touch,” Anderson said.
People could do so through the 105 service, referencing Operation Sunbrae.
“We are wrapping support around the families of those whose loved ones are unaccounted for,” Anderson said.
“We would also like to acknowledge the wider community, who have similarly shown such an outpouring of support and empathy for those affected, including the family of those who died in Welcome Bay.”
Anderson said there were still thousands of people across the region affected by the weather event, and Police, alongside other agencies, were working to support the communities.
“In Welcome Bay, where a number of evacuations were carried out, Police are carrying out additional patrols around those vacant properties until residents can return.
“Police will continue to work with our partners to support the ongoing operation at Mount Maunganui as the first priority, and will also continue to deploy our staff across the region where they are most needed.”
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Source: Radio New Zealand
Politicians welcomed to Rātana. RNZ / Pokere Paewai
Kiingitanga representative Rahui Papa says the coalition has done some good, but has been challenging for Māori – and that sometimes the Crown should not be involved.
He says Māori will be willing to work with any political party, no matter the colour.
Politicians were welcomed to Rātana Pa with a pōwhiri this afternoon.
Papa says with an election date of 7 November, Māori will be listening to what parties say about what is best for them.
He pointed out the irony that the day after the election – 8 November – was the same date Tahupotiki Wiremu Rātana received his vision.
He says Māori have had their ear to the ground on economics, but emphasises the value of mana motuhake and families supporting one another at home.
The Māori Queen Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po was welcomed to Rātana with a powhiri this morning, ahead of political parties arriving.
Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po and Te Rangimaheu Te Heuheu (center) being welcomed to Rātana. RNZ/Pokere Paewai
Sitting beside her was Te Rangimaheu Te Heuheu, the new Ariki of Ngati Tuwharetoa, making his first visit to Ratana since the passing of his father Sir Tumu te Heuheu in September, aged 84.
Speaking to media, Waikato-Tainui leader Tuku Morgan said the relationship between the Crown and Māori had become “pretty fractured” under the current government.
He said Māori now had a “greater sense of urgency” to find creative ways to work together.
“When you’re pushed into a corner, and when you’re marginalised and minimised they way we have been… it makes us much more united in our view to find innovative ways to survive in the long term.”
Morgan pointed to the Māori Queen’s new business investment platform – the “‘Kotahitanga Fund” – as an example of that innovation. The multimillion-dollar venture would provide funding for Māori entrepreneurs and businesses.
“We can’t rely on the Crown to do everything for us. That is a fallacy,” he said. “Despair is not an option.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi are both absent, surveying damage and helping local communities after the recent storms.
Tama Potaka and Nicola Willis are representing National.
They are attending along with Labour leader Chris Hipkins and members of the Greens, New Zealand First and Te Pāti Māori.
Politicians welcomed to Rātana. RNZ / Pokere Paewai
Labour leader Chris Hipkins told reporters the prime minister had made the “right decision” to skip the commemorations to instead visit weather-hit communities.
“It is the right place for him to be at the moment,” Hipkins said.
“I do want to extend, on behalf of the Labour Party, our thoughts to… those who have tragically lost loved ones, those who are still uncertain about what’s going on, those who have had to leave their homes.”
Speaking at Rātana, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer told RNZ her own Te Pāti Māori colleagues had also stayed in their electorates to support those affected.
“My message to them was: you’re not to leave your people.”
Ngarewa-Packer says the leader of the nation needed to be where the biggest hurt was – and in fact should have visited sooner.
“The prime minister’s advice was probably a bit slow… he probably should have been there yesterday… we know previous leaders would have done.
“Looking after those that are hurting at the moment is the priority.”
Ngarewa-Packer said the flooding drove home the seriousness of the climate crisis and the need to future-proof vulnerable communities.
“Why does it always take a tragedy for us to be able to sit there and say well, maybe, we do need to listen to the experts?”
Hpkins said the flooding was an undeniable consequence of climate change.
“You’d have to have your head buried in the sand to not recognise the fact that what were previously once-in-a-hundred-year events are now happening all of the time,” he said.
But NZ First leader Winston Peters dismissed some of the “alarmism” linking the flooding to climate change.
“It’s not new. We’ve had higher tides. I’ve seen them myself as a younger boy,” Peters said.
In a remarkable acknowledgement, Peters said the government had not done enough to prepare communities for such disasters:
“I’m just giving you the honest answer… we’ll have clear plans going forward to do better and do more with the New Zealand people.”
Green co-leader Marama Davidson told reporters the government had neglected to invest in infrastructure to protect communities from extreme weather events.
“That impacts on real people’s lives and loss of livelihood.”
NZ First leader Winston Peters speaks at Rātana. RNZ / Pokere Paewai
Kamaka Manuel, spokesperson for the Tumuaki of the Rātana Church, acknowledged whānau across the North Island who have been impacted by flooding and landslips over the past few days.
“Our thoughts and our prayers go out to our whānau that are in those areas and for the whānau that are experiencing loss as a result of those horrific events that have happened in the last 24 hours,” he said.
Despite the devastation elsewhere, Manuel said the celebrations at Rātana Pā have proceeded well, with Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po and the new Ariki of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Rangimaheu Te Heuheu Tukino IX, welcomed onto the marae this morning.
“It’s been lovely to have them all here and return to Rātana Pā.”
Manuel said this year the hui has returned to older traditions, with 24 January dedicated to rangatahi celebrations.
“As a young fella growing up here, the 24th was a sport parade in the morning and we would all get on the parade and donate our colours of where we came from. Obviously pertinent to our hāhi. And it’s going to be a wonderful opportunity for my own mokopuna to be a part of that and relive some of those childhood memories of their koroua,” he said.
He said the return to these traditions allows mōrehu to come together ahead of the founder’s birthday on 25 January, while placing rangatahi at the heart of the celebrations.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins speaks at Rātana. RNZ / Pokere Paewai
Manuel said the hui also symbolises the importance of Māori unity.
“Today’s coming together and arrival of our Queen and also our Ariki really, really symbolises just how important the kotahitanga o te iwi Māori is, in this aspect.”
While the Prime Minister will not attend due to ongoing weather disasters across the North Island, Manuel said the kaupapa of Rātana remains unchanged, with the Māori Queen and Ariki still participating and political parties being welcomed.
“We’ve already seen the Queen herself initiate a pathway that is of a view to really showing the powerfulness of kotahitanga amongst te iwi Māori,” he said.
“For us, it’s around ensuring that we are conducive to those efforts and that we are continuing to be unified and support…ensuring that our value system is also brought in parcel and parcel with that mana motuhake.”
Manuel said Rātana continues to be regarded as the first national hui of the Māori calendar.
“We’re excited to see what our rangatahi have prepared. They’re feeling quite empowered to be able to have a strong input into the running of the hui,” he said.
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Source: Radio New Zealand
RNZ / REECE BAKER
Police have confirmed a person has died at Cheltenham Beach on Auckland’s North Shore.
A spokesperson says they recieved a report of a man being pulled out of the water unresponsive just after 3pm.
Despite emergency services providing medical assistance the man died at the scene.
The immediate area is being cordoned off.
Police will make enquiries into the man’s death on behalf of the Coroner.
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Source: Radio New Zealand
RNZ / REECE BAKER
At least five police officers are at Cheltenham Beach in Auckland’s Devonport.
A witness at the beach told RNZ they can see what appears to be a body bag on the beach beside police officers.
The witness says they can also see a surf rescue jet-ski.
The beach is a popular swimming spot opposite Rangitoto Island in the Hauraki Gulf and is known to have relatively flat, calm waters.
More to come…
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