Source: New Zealand Police
District:
State Highway 3 north of Bulls has re-opened following an earlier vehicle fire.
We wish to thank motorists for their patience and understanding.
Further delays can be expected as congestion clears.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Radio New Zealand
Overall borrowing for small businesses was still robust towards the end of the financial year. File photo. 123 RF
Small businesses are still borrowing and investing, despite the Middle East conflict affecting the economy, according to a specialist lender.
Prospa says loan demand flattened slightly in March as rising fuel prices dented confidence, but overall borrowing was still robust – especially for equipment purchases and for taking advantage of government depreciation allowances before the financial year closes tomorrow.
Managing director Adrienne Begbie said firms were also drawing on lines of credit to boost inventory levels, partly as a hedge against possible transport disruptions, and partly to manage future cashflow pressures.
“People are borrowing off our line‑of‑credit product – you’re only paying interest when you’re using it – so it’s more of a ‘just‑in‑case I need it’ scenario,” she said.
Begbie said Prospa’s approval‑to‑settlement metric – the proportion of businesses actually drawing down approved credit – was sitting above 80 percent, levels she said suggested businesses were confident about investing.
She said arrears on business loans had dropped to low levels, and Prospa’s data showed most borrowers were profitable.
After enduring several crises in recent years, Begbie said small businesses seemed to be taking a more pragmatic view this time around, accepting they can not control global events and instead “looking at themselves and getting on with it”.
These trends suggested small businesses were not battening down the hatches during the fuel crisis.
Begbie said the country needed to be careful not to talk itself into a recession.
“There’s still a lot of activity out there, and I worry the doom‑and‑gloom rhetoric is pulling people down,” she says.
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Source: New Zealand Police
State Highway 3, Kihikihi is closed near McGhie Road following a crash.
The two-vehicle crash was reported just after 2:30pm.
Initial indications are that there are serious injuries.
Diversions are in place at the intersection with Golf Road and Herbert Street.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Radio New Zealand
Vegetable stalls at Otara markets. RNZ/Luka Forman
With the war in Iran pushing up the cost of everyday goods, some New Zealanders are having to choose between putting fuel in their car or putting good quality food on the table.
Some are choosing to buy cheaper meat or fruit and veges, catching the bus instead of driving or picking up overtime at their jobs to get by.
RNZ visited two of South Auckland’s weekend markets to find out how people are coping.
At the Otara markets, you can find some great deals on fresh fruit and vegetables and mouthwatering food stalls.
People were taking advantage of cheaper prices for produce – but many were still struggling.
Local woman Miriama said the rising cost of food and fuel had left her with some difficult choices.
“Have you got enough gas in the car to go to work? Or do you cut back on the meat you have? And then when you’re going to buy mince that’s so expensive, and that was like a staple which is no longer a staple anymore.”
“Then you come to the markets to try and find your vegetables or things you can’t afford to go to go to the grocery store for, and even Pak’nSave isn’t enough anymore. I would say it’s pretty abysmal.”
Food prices have jumped up 4.5 percent in the year to February, with some items like beef mince and sirloin steak up more than 20 percent.
South Auckland man George at Otara markets. RNZ/Luka Forman
George, who worked as a glazier, had been picking up overtime in the early hours to get by.
“I start at 2’oclock this morning, finished at 8, just come down to the market to get some food. I’m doing nine hour shifts a day but they want OT eh? Might as well grab it while it’s there.”
The government’s policies were not helping people like him with the cost of living, he said.
“Especially working class, that’s why I come here to get my veges bro it’s cheaper. Supermarket’s a ripoff too.”
Alot of the blame lay at the feet of President Trump, he said.
“It all starts from him, with the fuel and all that, with Iran and all that. He shouldn’t get involved with them, just let them do their business.”
Over at the Mangere market, solo mum Doreen said she had started catching the bus with her three children because of the cost of petrol.
“I live in Otahuhu at the moment and have to travel to Mangere to school. $3 something a litre? I’ve already ran out three times!”
The government’s $50 per week support package to help some families with the cost of fuel was not enough, she said.
“Per child yeah that’d be great. But for a family, that’s just bugger-all really.”
South Auckland woman Doreen with her son at Mangere markets. RNZ/Luka Forman
So what were people’s best tips to save money in tough economic times?
“Stay home!” Doreen laughed.
“If you have any money, my best tip is whenever you get coins just try to stick the coins away because they do add up”, Miriama said.
Back in Otara, George was just taking things one day at a time.
“We just got to survive mate. Nothing else than that. As long as you can wake up in the morning and go to work.”
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Source: Radio New Zealand
An ash cloud was seen over Whakaari White Island last week. Earth Sciences NZ
The volcanic alert level for Whakaari White Island has been lowered, after no further ash since an eruption last week.
But there is also a warning there could still be sudden and more explosive activity.
A plume of ash rose to about 1300 metres after a small eruption on Tuesday.
Earth Sciences said it had not detected anything further and it would be doing an observation flight as soon as conditions allowed.
The Volcanic Alert Level is now 2, because there are not any signs of an eruption.
But the Aviation Colour Code is staying at Orange.
The agency said volcanic activity could still return with little or no warning.
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Source: New Zealand Police
A man allegedly caught breaking into the shop at a petrol station in Glen Eden will now face court.
At about 2.30am, Police were notified of an alarm and fog cannon activation at a petrol station on West Coast Road.
A Police camera operator was then able to track a shirtless man acting in an erratic manner and eating food near the forecourt.
Waitematā West Area Prevention Manager, Acting Inspector Nick Salter, says upon arrival it was clear the business had been broken into.
“Police have arrived and the man has resisted arrest.
“He was subsequently OC sprayed, however he has then attempted to flee on foot and was apprehended by a Police dog.
“We will continue to hold such brazen offending to account.”
A 35-year-old man will appear in Waitākere District Court today charged with burglary and resisting Police.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: Radio New Zealand
RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Police are speaking with two people after a diesel leak scare in the South Auckland suburb of Manurewa.
Fire and Emergency discovered the leak was actually cable cooling fluid used to insulate power cables.
Three crews were called to the scene on Great South Road in the suburb of Manurewa at 6.30am.
Police said they were “speaking with” two people in relation to the matter.
Earlier Detective senior sergeant Michele Gillespie, of the Counties Manukau Crime Squad, said police were made aware of a potential gas leak early on Monday.
Upon arrival, Gillespie said it was determined to be a Northpower pipe.
“Police do not believe the pipe is connected to the nearby service stations,” Gillespie added.
Earlier FENZ assistant commander Chris Delfos also said it was possible the initial damage was intentional.
He said there had also been a telephone line cut nearby, but would not comment further on that.
Fire and Emergency NZ and police were called to Great South Road before 7am. Kim Baker Wilson/RNZ
A Northpower spokesperson said the cable affected is in the Vector network area.
“Northpower Energy Services contract to Vector for some work in the area,” a statement said.
Anyone with additional information is asked to update police – online, or by calling 105 – using the reference number P065915628.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Emergency services at the scene. Kim Baker Wilson/RNZ
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Source: Radio New Zealand
New Zealand’s tourism industry is feeling the impacts of the Middle East conflict, with cost of living, to the cost of travel itself skyrocketing, Tourism Industry Aotearoa’s chief executive Rebecca Ingram says. Quin Tauetau
New Zealand’s tourism industry is feeling the impacts of the Middle East conflict, with businesses experiencing “a sharp increase in business costs“, an industry leader says.
The industry was said to be getting its mojo back in the past 18 months, however the global fuel crisis is making the comeback difficult – from the increases in cost of living, to the cost of travel itself.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa’s chief executive Rebecca Ingram told Midday Report the situation was not ideal, but the industry was used to disruption.
“Whether its earthquakes volcanos that change flight paths, and in this case we’ve got conflict, and it’s times like this we really rally together, we hustle internationally to make sure we stay connected…”
“Many businesses are experiences the sharp increase in business costs as a result of the leap in fuel prices.
“The most obvious price most people think about is jet fuel, but then there’s the jet boats, the lawn mowers that are need to mow all the beautiful lawns and holiday parks and botanic gardens, transport providers, so those costs are feeling pretty squeezy for many.”
Ingram said in a recent survey Tourism Industry Aotearoa, 70 percent of businesses reported experiencing little to no impact.
“What we can see at the initial survey results is that many New Zealanders will have booked and paid for their holidays, but there are some signal some businesses are experiencing cancellations – so 70 percent are saying there is no impact or a small decrease.”
Ingram said it was a “bit of a blessing” that the disruption was happening at the end of the summer season.
But she said one in nine Kiwis had a job in tourism, and the industry would be keeping a “very close eye on the situation in Iran and the disruption that might be possible for the next few months”.
“We will be wanting to work with the government and tourism New Zealand in particular to look at how we can ensure a successful summer 26/27.”
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Source: Radio New Zealand
Armed police blocked a central Auckland road on Monday afternoon and arrested at least one person.
At least four police cars blocked the southbound lane on Hobson Street.
RNZ / Calvin Samuel
One person was seen being told to get out of a white station wagon with their hands in the air.
RNZ / Calvin Samuel
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Source: Radio New Zealand
Construction job are down 2.1 percent and manufacturing is down 1.6 percent. UnSplash/ Silvia Brazzoduro
New Zealand had 1505 more filled jobs in February than same time a year earlier, Stats NZ data shows, but economists say that might be as good as it gets for a while.
There were 2.35 million filled jobs last month.
Public administration and safety was up 3.2 percent year-on-year, while healthcare and social assistance was up 1.7 percent. Education and training jobs were up 1.2 percent.
But construction was down 2.1 percent and manufacturing down 1.6 percent.
Between construction and manufacturing, they lost almost 8000 jobs over the year.
Canterbury had the largest growth year-on-year, up 1.5 percent. Auckland was down 0.4 percent and Wellington down 0.9 percent. Otago was up 1.4 percent and Waikato up 0.9 percent.
Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhopld said the update was the highest monthly filled jobs figure since November.
It was probably as high as it would go for now, he said.
“We currently forecast very modest positive growth in employment from here until Q3 when we expect decent levels of growth to resume as the Iran War is expected to have died down by then. Hence we are likely very close to peak filled jobs for now but much depends on how the Iran war and the response from business evolves.”
BNZ chief economist Mike Jones agreed the outlook was uncertain.
“Hiring plans may well be impacted. Firms’ intentions to hire for the coming 12 months had climbed to levels well above average, but these plans look set to be tested now that growth expectations are coming under pressure, costs rising aggressively and uncertainty about the outlook in the ascendancy.
“The key question is whether this shock causes firms to rein in hiring plans, or whether it’s of a magnitude that forces them to reduce staffing numbers. I think, at this stage, it’s more likely aggregate employment slows down rather than stalls or contracts. But, as with many aspects of the outlook, much depends on how long this shock goes on for.
“Prospects for a recovery in the labour market this year do appear to have dimmed, with any decline in the unemployment rate looking more like a story for next year.”
Infometrics said any signs the economy was starting to recover would most likely be put on hold.
“The immediate effects are being felt by consumers and businesses at the pump. The secondary effects on business overheads, and the extent to which they will be pushed through to consumer prices, will take longer to materialise. Under these conditions, any confidence employers were starting to feel to take on additional staff will most likely have been undermined.”
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