Midday Report Essentials for Tuesday 29th July 2025
In today's episode, thousands of homes have been without power across Northland as what has been described as an 'atmospheric funnel', hits Aotearoa; Rain is falling steadily at the top of the South Island, where there are orange heavy rain warnings in force; Small businesses say the government's payment surcharge changes are unfairly targeting them and it should instead be putting pressure on banks; Severe weather is hitting many parts of the country, causing power outages, flooding, and downing trees; The country's top netballers are shrouded in a cloud of uncertainty with Netball New Zealand still yet to ink a broadcast deal for the next ANZ premiership season.
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RNZ News
6 minutes ago
- RNZ News
First portion of social investment funding to prioritise children
Photo: RNZ The Social Investment Agency will prioritise social services working with children of families with complex needs for its first round of funding. In May, the government announced the $190 million Social Investment Fund , as part of this year's Budget. Former police commissioner Andrew Coster heads the agency. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The fund is governed by the Social Investment Agency, led by former police commissioner Andrew Coster. Applications for the first round of funding will open on 25 August. To qualify, organisations need to be working with one, or more of, the following: "We know children who have had these experiences are more likely to experience poor outcomes and require significant social support throughout their lives," Coster said. Three initiatives have already been supported by the fund, including an Autism NZ early screening and intervention scheme, an Emerge Aotearoa youth offending programme, and a Te Tihi o Ruahine wraparound support initiative for families in need. The fund is expected to invest in at least 20 initiatives in its first year.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Could Northland's Marsden Point be NZ's first 'Special Economic Zone'?
'I'm on top of the world!' Regional Development Minister Shane Jones descends from the top of a 27-metre-high fuel tank. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf A 'Special Economic Zone' at Northland's Marsden Point could supercharge the region's - if not the country's - economy, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Jones and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters visited Marsden Point on Tuesday to inspect a jet fuel storage project , while also promoting their vision for encouraging investment around Northland's main port. Peters said the area could "easily" become New Zealand's first Special Economic Zone . It had New Zealand's best deep-water port, was closest to international shipping lanes, and had plenty of land to build on. "These zones go a step beyond fast-track legislation. The zones will also have tax regimes that appeal to investors, local and international alike." Jones said Special Economic Zones already operated in Ireland, Singapore and Croatia. He said increased depreciation, tax "holidays" in which companies initially paid no tax, and attractive regulatory regimes could be used to attract large-scale investment in specific areas. Jones admitted the plan was "unorthodox" and would not say if it was supported by the party's coalition partners - but he believed bold moves were needed because current efforts to grow the economy were not working. "The Ruth Richardson bare austerity approach … it's not delivering the economic growth we need. Unless we have these kinds of bespoke initiatives, with tax incentives and self-consenting powers, I fear we're just going to be stuck in a rut talking about the same things year after year … and that's not good enough." Only a small degree of contortion is required for the Regional Development Minister Shane Jones to enter the nation's equal-biggest jet fuel tank. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf He said the party wanted to table Special Economic Zone legislation in the coming year, or take the policy to the next election. Jones was typically provocative when describing how consenting in a Special Economic Zone might work. "When the zone is created any conditions of an environmental resource management character should be written into the zone. And then, my view is, you just have a couple of engineers in a tin shed somewhere, they can quickly consent things. This business of constipating and protracting all these resource consent processes is making the country broke." The Marsden Point zone, if created, could incorporate the former oil refinery site, the proposed Northport extension, and a planned dry dock facility for servicing large vessels such as Navy ships and Cook Strait ferries. Z Energy chief executive Lindis Jones and corporate affairs general manager Haley Mortimer with Regional Development Minister Shane Jones (centre) in the 18-metre-deep jet fuel tank. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf A rail link between the port and Northland's existing railway line was also vital for the development of Marsden Point, Jones said. Meanwhile, the aviation fuel tank the ministers came to inspect was being constructed by Channel Infrastructure on the former Marsden Point oil refinery site. Jones said it would boost New Zealand's resilience at a time of increasing geopolitical instability. Channel chief executive Rob Buchanan said the 30-million-litre tank had previously been used for crude oil and was being adapted for jet fuel at cost of up to $30m, in partnership with Z Energy. It would hold enough fuel for 10,000 flights between Auckland and Wellington. Once complete it would increase total storage of jet fuel, petrol and diesel at Marsden Point to about 300 million litres. Channel Infrastructure chief executive Rob Buchanan and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones atop a 30-million-litre jet fuel tank. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Buchanan said it was not the only project bringing life back to the site where oil refining ended in 2022. "One of the projects we're working on very actively at the moment is repurposing the old refinery into a biorefinery, which could produce diesel and jet fuel. That's with some international partners because it would be a very significant amount of capital investment. It'd be really exciting to bring back manufacturing capacity," he said. Buchanan would not say what would be used as the raw material, citing business confidentiality. A decision as to whether the biorefinery would go ahead was expected next year. Both Jones and Peters expressed disappointment at the oil refinery's closure , but with the cost of reopening it estimated at $5-7 billion, Jones accepted that was not going to happen. "We're over that chapter and we have to support new industry and new investment," he said. Regional Development Minister Shane Jones with Channel Infrastructure chairman James Miller, chief executive Rob Buchanan and operations general manager James Stewart inside the 30-million-litre jet fuel tank. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Peters said the Marsden Point rail project, which was part of the coalition agreement, was continuing to make progress. Almost all the land required had been bought and KiwiRail had completed the design work. The 19 kilometre rail spur between Oakleigh, south of Whangārei, and Northport had initially been estimated to cost $1 billion. Peters said he would not accept such a high cost. In the coming weeks KiwiRail would share its designs, on a confidential basis, with other potential builders, he said. "We're going to get value for money. And if we don't get it from New Zealanders we'll get it from international competition. That's why I can guarantee you we're not talking about a billion dollars or anything like it." Construction had originally been due to begin in late 2026 or early 2027 but Jones said that had been delayed. The other major project planned for Marsden Point was a dry dock expected to cost $400-500m. Jones said it would be a public-private partnership part-funded by the Regional Infrastructure Fund. Shortlisted companies had until May to submit Requests for Proposal. Jones said the government was "getting closer" to choosing a successful bidder. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
'Very dangerous': Waipiro marina rubber-stamped for fast track
Local iwi and hapū Ngāti Kuta, Patukeha and Ngāti Hine are against a fast-tracked Waipiro Marina Project. Photo: supplied / Jay Howell The Bay of Islands community is shocked that a fast-tracked marina proposal will progress to the next stage. The approval on Monday by Minister of Infrastructure Chris Bishop comes with no support from local iwi and hapū Ngāti Kuta, Patukeha, and Ngāti Hine. "We are deeply concerned and do not understand how the minister could disregard the united oppositon to this proposal from across the district," Kohu Hakaraia of Patukeha hapū said. Bishop has been approached for comment, however, Hakaraia said they "refute" the minister's previous statements that the marina is regionally or nationally significant. The proposed build of a commercial marina will offer berthage for 200-250 recreational boating vessels with 14 spaces for 50-metre superyachts. The cost of each berth depends on the vessel size - a 10-20m slot would cost between $80,000 - $640,000 while a 20-30m berth could be priced up to $1.2 million. A public boat ramp, a parking lot, fuelling services, and hospitality and retail venues would also be constructed on reclaimed seabed with sand dredging used during construction and for maintanence. It is estimated to bring an economic impact of $177.9 to $218.8 million in value-added GDP and generate just under 150 full time jobs in construction, operations, and boat maintenance over a 30-year period. The proposed plan for up to 250 boating vessels Photo: supplied Those opposing the Waipiro Marina Project have called for transparency and accountability from the two companies - Hopper Developments and Azuma Property - and hoped the decision would go back to a Resource Management Act process. "As hapū and community, we feel that our voices have not been adequately heard," Hakaraia said. Both companies did not respond to requests for comment. An online petition has rallied 14,600 signatures disagreeing with the use of fast-track legislation for the site and Far North Mayor Moko Tepania had also pledged to write a personal letter . There has also been a stern no from boaties. Russell Boating Club members voted at their AGM in June to oppose use of the Fast Track Approvals Act 2024 with regards to the Bay of Islands project. Life member and former commodore of the club Jay Howell said the area was a quiet, treasured destination for locals to "anchor up and enjoy getting away from the hustle and bustle of Russell and the western flank of the Bay of Islands". The proposed marina and boat ramp would overwhelm the waterways with boat traffic, he said. Plus, the Ōpua-Okiato Vehicle Ferry crossing already brought long lines of cars that worsened in the summertime, Howell said. "That ferry is going to get overwhelmed by traffic. There aren't any alternatives really. They can't add more ferries and more ferry capacity, they're already at capacity. "There's infrastructure issues that Fast-Track just overlooks all of that and allows somebody [who isn't local] to make a decision that it has big ramifications locally." Boating and tourism businesses in Ōpua and Paihia were already struggling, he noted, and the marina could take business away from existing commercial centres making businesses less economically viable. A low tide aerial shot of Waipiro Bay. Photo: supplied Environmental benefits stated in the application included the creation of new marine environments, and improved ability to monitor and manage international and domestic boats that could be carrying foreign invasive species, like seaweed pest exotic caulerpa. Howell was also a member of the Eastern Bay of Islands Preservation Society. He was concerned that the influx of a couple of hundred extra boats would cause further decline of the whale and dolphin populations - something he had noticed in the last 15 years of living there. "Private boats just follow them around and don't leave them alone, and the marina will just exacerbate that situation out here." In addition, scallop beds and mussels in the area had already been decimated due to overharvesting. Te Rāwhiti residents would lose one of their main pipi beds. "There's all these impacts that the human activities are having on the marine environment in the area, and the marina will certainly put a lot more burden on all of that," Howell said. Another member of the Preservation Society, Sandra Scowen, said the area should be protected from large-scale commercial development and preserved for future generations. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
